The four-storey residential building in south Mumbai's Dongri area, which is dotted with narrow lanes, collapsed shortly before noon, trapping over 40 people under the debris, civic officials said.
A decrepit building about 100 years old collapsed Tuesday in south Mumbai's congested Dongri locality, killing at least 10 people and trapping more than 40 people under the debris, once again exposing the creaking infrastructure of India's largest city.
The four-storey residential building, in a maze of byzantine lanes and houses clustered closely together, came down shortly before noon, civic officials said.
The National Disaster Response Force said six men, four women and a child were killed while eight were injured.
Officials of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had put the death toll at four and the number of injured at nine. Maharashtra Housing Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil earlier said 12 to 13 people were killed, citing preliminary information.
As night fell on the city, hundreds of people continued the job of rescuing people from under the rubble of the Kesarbai building, which housed an eatery on the ground floor and was located in a bustling lane off Tandel Street.
The difficult access to the site prevented ambulances and earth movers from being deployed, and rescue workers, including residents, used bare hands to remove concrete chunks, door frames and household items. Ambulances had to be parked some 50 metres away.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has opened a shelter at Imamwada Municipal Secondary Girls' School after the building collapse, a civic official said.
"A team of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) reaching the spot. We are assuming that 10 to 12 families are still under the debris," Mumbadevi MLA Amin Patel told reporters at the spot.
PM Modi expressed his condolences
Collapse of a building in Mumbai’s Dongri is anguishing. My condolences to the families of those who lost their lives. I hope the injured recover soon. Maharashtra Government, NDRF and local authorities are working on rescue operations & assisting those in need: PM @narendramodi
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 16, 2019
1. NDRF teams at spot
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Two teams of NDRF are currently at spot to expedite rescue work. Help of JCB and workers of Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai are being taken.
The building was old and dilapidated and the trustee didn't do any repair work. Neighbouring buildings are also in dangerous condition.
2. Rescue underway
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Shelter centre has been set up by BMC at nearby Imamwada school.The narrow approach to this building has made rescue work difficult.
Injured have been rushed to JJ Hospital. pic.twitter.com/L6XFgHWLhn
— DNA (@dna) July 16, 2019
3. Maharashtra CM Fadnavis promises investigation
Maharashtra CM says, " As per the initial information I have received, around 15 families are feared trapped in the collapse. The building is around 100 yrs old. The entire focus is on rescuing the people trapped. Investigation will be done".
He also said that the state government will ensure that the injured get proper treatment and said authorities are trying to quickly remove the debris.
