Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has ordered an inquiry into the incident and said no stone will be left unturned until the guilty are brought to justice
Twelve people were killed and eleven others injured when a four-storey residential building collapsed in Mumbai’s Ghatkopar today, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials said.
"Until 9 pm, 23 people were extricated from the rubble, out of whom 12 were declared dead while 11 injured have been admitted in various hospitals," said Mahesh Narvekar, the chief of BMC's Disaster Management cell.
He said the search and rescue operation would continue.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis too visited the spot tonight and has ordered an inquiry into the incident. “Offence has been registered and the police is investigating the case . Will not spare anyone who will be found guilty,” said Fadnavis, who has also instructed BMC Commissioner Ajoy Mehta to submit a detailed report in the next fortnight.
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena leader Sunil Shitap, who was earlier being held responsible for building collapse, has now been booked for culpable homicide.
Jt CP Law and Order Deven Bharti has confirmed with ANI that Shitap has been detained by the Mumbai Police and is being questioned.
"Prima facie, it is revealed that the accused was carrying out illegal renovation in the building. At this juncture, it will not be appropriate to give other details as investigation is underway and available information needs verification," he said.
The residents of the building said that the mishap took place because of the renovation work being carried out at the first floor. The renovation work was undertaken on ground floor nursing home reportedly owned by the Shiv Sena leader.
"We will investigate the matter and take action against the culprits," Mumbai Mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar had said.
Meanwhile, the Mumbai Police have confirmed that 19 people have been pulled out till now of which 12 have been declared dead.
Those deceased include a three-month-old baby and four women, Rahangdale said.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has also been pressed into service to rescue those trapped under the rubble.
The structure that came down this morning at Ghatkopar's Damodar Park area, housed around 15 families.
"About 75 per cent of the debris has been removed and a search operation is underway to find if anyone is still trapped under the rubble," said Rahangdale.
The civic body's control room received a call at around 10.43 am about the accident, a BMC official said.
Fire engines, a rescue van and ambulances were rushed to the spot immediately, he said.
Eyewitnesses said in the morning they heard a loud sound, similar to that of lightning as the building came down in a massive heap of rubble.
"When I came out of my building, I found a lot of dust, cries of people seeking help. I saw parts of the building collapse," an eyewitness said.
According to a local resident, it was a 35-year-old structure.
The city and its suburbs received heavy rains over the last several days, though there has been some respite since yesterday with downpour giving way to intermittent showers.
The Mumbai Police cordoned off the area while traffic was blocked on the Lal Bhadur Shastri road to provide a 'green corridor' to rush those rescued to hospitals.
Rajesh Diyora, a resident of the ill-fated structure, said some commercial activity was being carried out on the ground floor and that might have led to the collapse.
Diyora had left for his office just before the building caved in.
The building was not listed among those in dangerous category, as per local residents.
According to a written reply by the government in the assembly about unsafe buildings in the metropolis, a survey by the BMC earlier this year had identified 617 such structures.
These buildings were termed as "dilapidated" in the survey report. The BMC has initiated action on the report under the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, 1888.
In all, 112 such buildings were vacated, while 42 were referred to the technical advisory committee to decide their fate.
The BMC has also submitted an affidavit in the Bombay High Court regarding 45 buildings identified as dangerous for habitation where people continue to live
With inputs from PTI and ANI
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