Ghatkopar building collapse: Govt will bear hospital expenses of those injured, says Maharashtra CM

Delhi: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday announced Rs two lakh to kin of those who died in Ghatkopar building collapse.

He also said in the Assembly that the government would bear hospital expenses of those injured.

Earlier today, the Congress and the NCP demanded stringent action against those responsible for the tragedy.

The Opposition targeted the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) over the incident alleging that the Shiv Sena-ruled civic body had turned a blind eye to the complaints of the residents about the unauthorised works being carried out on the ground floor of the building.

They repeatedly referred to the arrest of Shiv Sena worker Sunil Shitap in connection with the building collapse.

Leader of the Opposition, Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, charged that the BMC has become 'a private limited company' which protects the interest of a handful of people.

"The BMC should become a public service body that will protect the interest of the common man," he said, as per PTI.

In a dig at the Shiv Sena, which rules the civic body, he said, "There are some people in the power who are responsible for this tragic accident."

He wanted the government to take stern action against everybody involved in it and asked the ruling BJP not to try to protect its ally (Shiv Sena) in the matter.

Ajit Pawar of the NCP wanted those responsible for the building collapse to be charged with culpable homicide.

"Sunil Shitap (arrested in connection with the building collapse) is said to have links with the Shiv Sena and he has misused his clout to make changes in the building," Pawar said.

He has been booked under IPC sections 304 (II) (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 336 (act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 338 (causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others).

NCP member Jitendra Avhad said, "It is the negligence and carelessness of the BMC staff that has led to the building collapse."

BJP MLA Raj Purohit said the residents of the collapsed building had earlier met the civic officials to complain about the renovation going on there but they were allegedly threatened by Shitap.

Meanwhile, the death toll today rose to 17 after five more bodies were pulled out from the rubble of the four-storey building during overnight search and rescue operations.

According to residents of the Siddhi-Sai Cooperative Housing Society, the pillars of the building got weakened due to renovation work of a nursing home on the ground floor owned by Shitap, leading to the collapse yesterday.

(With Agency inputs)