MUMBAI/NAGPUR: A portion of a ground-plus-two storey building in Thakurli collapsed on Tuesday night. At least three people, including a woman, were reported dead while 6 to 8 people are still feared trapped inside the building.
12 people have been injured in the incident.
Relief and rescue operations continued through the night.
The fire brigade found it difficult to access the Matrukripa building in Mira Nagar area near Dombivli due to the congested lanes and bylanes.
“At 11pm, when it was raining heavily, a portion of the staircase collapsed. Hearing the loud crash, we rushed out of our homes,” said Bala Ganesh, a resident of a nearby building. “We told them to get out of the building immediately, but they couldn’t as the staircase had collapsed. Within minutes, the structure collapsed too,” he said.
“Around 12 to 15 families were trapped in the building and the fire brigade and disaster management personnel were busy trying to rescue them,” said a local.
The dilapidated building’s half portion collapsed creating panic among the residents and neighbors.
The building is said to be 35 years old and was in a dilapidated condition. KDMC Mayor Kalyani Patil who rushed to the spot claimed that the building was on the list of dilapidated buildings and even the KDMC had served notices to the building’s residents but they did not evacuate it.
Thane collector Dr Ashwini Joshi also reached the spot to supervise the relief and rescue operations.
Fire officials said buildings neighbouring the Matry Chhaya have also been damaged due to the collapse.
