Early morning incident leaves 15 injured; Maharashtra Chief Minister orders probe

Twenty-four people died and 15 were seriously injured when a 117-year-old six-storey building near the JJ Flyover in south Mumbai came crashing down on Thursday morning. Six firemen, who were part of the team carrying out rescue operations, were among the injured, said officials.

According to civic officials, the Husseini Building collapsed around 8.30 a.m.

Fire brigade personnel from the nearby Byculla station reached the spot within 10 minutes. At 8.42 a.m., the incident was declared a Level III disaster and the National Disaster Response Force was contacted for help.

The debris of the building crushed an adjacent single-storey sweetmeats supplier’s shop. It also took down the facade of another building next to it.

Apart from several commercial establishments, the ground floor of Husseini Building housed a play home for small children, which was closed at the time of the collapse. “There was a small fire in the debris, which originated from a caterer’s shop, and that had to be controlled first,” said Chief Fire Officer P.S. Rahangdale. “Also, a beam collapsed while our personnel were working. Six men were taken to the hospital, four of whom have been discharged.”

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Aftab Ali, who stays in the building across the lane, said it happened all of a sudden. “I stepped out of my house around 8 a.m. and heard two loud creaks from the direction of the building. Just as I was thinking of raising an alarm, the building came crashing down.”

Although the IMD had on Tuesday predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall for the next 24 to 48 hours, rescue officials said the total absence of rain in south Mumbai worked in favour of the rescue team.

More people feared trapped under rubble

From 9.30 a.m. to 7 p.m., rescue workers pulled out 40 victims from the debris of the 117-year-old six-storey building in south Mumbai that collapsed on Thursday morning.

Fifteen persons were admitted with serious injuries to the JJ Hospital.

Rescue efforts were under way till late on Thursday night. Four or five people are feared to be trapped in the rubble.

Police said the approach to the building was a problem. The lane was very narrow. Although the building is two minutes way from JJ Hospital, police had to stop traffic at frequent intervals to let ambulances pass.

“The same road is also taken by Ganeshotsav processions to go to the Girgaum sea face, and we diverted the processions through the Null Bazaar area,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone I) Manoj Kumar Sharma.

Aid for victims

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis ordered an inquiry by Additional Chief Secretary (Housing). He also asked the commissioner of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Ajoy Mehta to submit a report on the collapse.

“We are focusing on providing immediate medical assistance to injured people. The kin of victims in this tragedy would be given ₹5 lakh aid,” he said.