Virar building collapse: Death toll rises to 17; rescue ops ongoing

Mumbai: The toll in building crash tragedy in Virar near Mumbai mounted to 17 on Thursday in what was one the worst accidents in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region(MMR) post Covid-19 pandemic even as the the police has arrested the builder on charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

Nine injured persons have been admitted to local hospitals - of which six are said to be critical.

The building - Ramabai Apartment, a four-storied structure located between Chamunda Nagar and Vijay Nagar on Narangi Road in Virar-East area of Vasai taluka, collapsed around midnight of Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Ramabai Apartment has 50 flats - and the collapsed part had 12 apartments, which was home to over 50-60 residents.

A pall of gloom descended on the Narangi Road area - when Ganeshotsav festivities were underway elsewhere. The locals and relatives of the victims are demanding strict action against the builders, landowners and the government and civic officials who gave permission.

Teams of Vasai Virar City Municipal Corporation (VVCMC), Mira-Bhayander Vasai-Virar (MBVV) police and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are engaged in the search and rescue (S&R) operation.

The building, which was declared unsafe and unauthorised, was constructed in 2012.

The building, housing nearly 50 flats, collapsed on an adjacent vacant tenement.

As a precautionary measure, all the chawls around the ill-fated building have been vacated and occupants shifted to safer places.

On Wednesday evening, Palghar district Collector Dr Indu Rani Jakhar visited the site and oversaw the S&R operations.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has announced financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh to the next of kin of deceased. “It is a sad incident,” he said.

Several families are homeless, all of whom have been shifted to Chandansar Samaj Mandir and provided with food, water, and medical aid.

Meanwhile, the Virar police have arrested Nittal Gopinath Sane, owner of Sai Dutta Builders and Developers, who has constructed the building.

A case has been registered against him under section 105 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and Maharashtra Regional Town Planning Act.

Among those killed were members of the Jovil family, who were celebrating a one-year-old girl’s birthday when a part of the building collapsed, killing the girl, Utkarsha, and her mother, Arohi and father Omkar Jovil.

“Nine people who were injured are being treated," said Sanjay Hirwade, Additional Commissioner, VVCMC.

“People were dancing and celebrating during the birthday party when suddenly the entire structure collapsed like a pack of cards," said a survivor. “The building collapsed like a pack of cards amid heavy rains. The rattling sound woke up the people of neighbouring buildings,” an eyewitness said.

VVCMC’s Municipal Commissioner Manoj Suryavanshi said the name of the residents would be added to land documents alongside the landowners which will give them the right in decisions related to the property.

The operation was very complex as the building collapsed like a pack of cards - as the S&T teams had to use sledgehammers and gas cutters to gain access. They also pressed into action sniffer dogs to find the survivors. The intermittent rains affected the S&R operation.