JOIN USThe residents of ‘Kabir Shaikh-ki-building’ in Garibnagar locality — which collapsed after heavy rain on Sunday, killing nine people — were asked to vacate by the Bhiwandi-Nizampur Municipal Corporation (BNMC) as the dwelling was on the list of dangerous buildings.
However, eight to nine families stayed in the building. Bhiwandi is located 45 km away from Mumbai and is highly populated and congested. A lot of people who stay here are migrant labourers who work in the textile industry and godowns.
At the time of going to press, there were reports of two to three more persons being trapped. However, BNMC and NDRF teams were involved in rescue operations. Intermittent rain and slush were hampering rescue operations.
“What has happened is sad… but at the same time, it has to be noted that people do not shift out of buildings that are declared dangerous by corporations,” Public Works Minister Eknath Shinde, who is the Guardian Minister of Thane district, told reporters after visiting the site.
“This building was declared unfit to live in,” Bhiwandi-Nizampur civic chief E Ravindra said.
“We have rescued 27 people. Of the rescued,17 are undergoing treatment,” said Additional Commissioner of Police P S Patankar. Mohammed Vakil and family had a narrow escape when the building caved in.
“I was getting ready for work. Suddenly, everything started shaking… I shuddered,” said Vakil. “I saw a cupboard fall on my daughter. I rushed to save her. My wife and son were also injured,” he said, adding that his son received injuries on his limb, while his wife sustained injuries to her head.
Asked whether they were asked to vacate, he said: “There were some issues. In fact, the owner also used to stay here and we used to ask him about that also. If the building was dangerous, why was he staying here,” he asked.