Mumbai: Century-old building collapses in Bhendi Bazaar; 21 die, many injured

By Rons Bantwal
Bellevison Media Network

Mumbai, 01 Sep 2017: The India’s financial capital Mumbai that was battered by torrential rains on Tuesday, August 29, was in news again. One-hundred-seventeen-year-old 5-storey building - Husaini Nivas, located on Pakmodia Street, Bhendi Bazaar, Byculla, of south Mumbai collapsed on Thursday, August 31 at 8.30am.

 

Twenty-one people died and over 16 people are fatally wounded in the building collapse.

 

 

There was a eatery and a few godowns on the ground floor of building and 12 tenants over above floors. Nearly 80 people were living in the building.

 

The fire brigade, MFB, NDRF, law enforcement agencies, NGOs began rescue operation and rescued 52 people including 7 children from the rubbles of building by Thursdayevening. The critically injured were taken to J J Hospital, while the situation of 7 people is more critical. ‘There may be 11 more people still buried in the rubbles,’ said Prabhat Rahangdale, fire officer of Byculla fire brigade.

 

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis, guardian minister Subash Desai, Byculla MLA Warris Patan, mayor Professor Vishwanat Mahadeshwar, BJP leader Shina N C, underworld don Dawood Ibrahim’s brother Iqbal Kaskar and others visited the spot and consoled the families of injured.

 

CM Fadnavis announced Rs 5 lac each to family of deceased and also state administration will bear the medical expenses of injured.

 

It’s the third building collapsed in just one month.

 

Mumbai has been hit by several deadly building collapses in recent years, often caused by shoddy construction, poor quality materials or ageing buildings.

 

The city is particularly vulnerable to deadly collapse with millions forced to live in cramped, ramshackle properties because of rising real estate prices and a lack of housing for the poor.