Two dead, 12 injured as four-storey building collapses in Mumbai; 20-22 people feared trapped

New Delhi: At least two people died while 12 others sustained injuries after a four-storey building collapsed in Mumbai's Kurla on Monday (June 27, 2022) night. The incident took place in the Naik Nagar area and the teams of the fire brigade, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and police are currently involved in the rescue operations. Around 20-22 people are currently said to be trapped under the debris. An official said that the wing of the building was likely to collapse.

The injured have been shifted to civic hospitals in Ghatkopar and Sion. Two men, aged 28 and 30, among those brought to the Rajawadi Hospital in Ghatkopar, were declared dead on arrival, news agency PTI reported citing a civic official said.

Around a dozen fire engines were deployed at the spot besides two rescue vans and other fire brigade equipment, PTI said.

Maharashtra | Rescue operation underway as several people are trapped after a four-storey building collapsed in Kurla, Mumbai last night

As per officials, 12 people have been rescued & one was declared dead. pic.twitter.com/Q1ylGmbrZF — ANI (@ANI) June 28, 2022

 

BMC had issued notices to collapsed building

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had been issuing notices to the collapsed building repeatedly since 2013, under provisions of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, initially for repairs and then for vacating it and demolition, Additional Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide told PTI.

"Even prosecution for-non compliance was initiated. Later, the residents got the structural audit redone and got the building categorised as repairable, but didn't carry out the repairs," said the official, who visited the spot on Tuesday and reviewed the search and rescue operation.

Bhide said despite the BMC's continuous efforts to vacate the building, people had continued to stay there.

The building residents had even given an undertaking that they would stay there at their risk and cost, she said.

Maharashtra Environment and Tourism Minister Aaditya Thackeray also visited the site and reviewed the search and rescue operation.

Third major building collapse in Mumbai in June

This is the third major building collapse incident in the metropolis this month. On June 23, the slab of a two-storey industrial structure collapsed in Chembur area, killing a 22-year-old person and injuring 10 others. On June 9, a three-storey residential building collapsed in suburban Bandra, where a 55-year-old man was killed and 18 others suffered injuries.

(With agency inputs)