■ 11 killed, 7 injured in Mumbai building collapse
Eight children and three adults were killed and seven other people injured after two floors of a three-storey building collapsed on an adjoining single-storey house in Malwani area of Mumbai, officials said on Thursday.
The incident took place around 11.15 pm on Wednesday at the New Collector Compound on Abdul Hamid Road in the Malwani area, they said. While earlier civic officials said a single-storey house had collapsed, they later said it was a three-storey building. According to police, the building was constructed illegally and after the incident, its contractor was being questioned. The second and third floors of the three-storey building collapsed on the adjoining single-storey house, said Santosh Dhonde, acting ward officer of the city’s P-North ward.
Fire brigade and other agencies immediately rushed to the spot and started a search and rescue operation, the official from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said. Eight children and three adults died, he said, adding that most of the deceased were from two separate families. The deceased have been identified as - Sahil Sarfaraz Sayyed (9), Arifa Sheikh (9), Shafiq Md Saleem Siddiqui (45), Tausif Shafiq Siddiqui (15), Aalisha Shafiq Siddiqui (10), Alfisa Shafiq Siddiqui (1.5 years), Afina Shafik Siddiqui (6), Ishrat Bano Shafiq Siddiqui (40), Rahisa Bano Rafik Siddiqui (40), Tahes Safik Siddiqui (12) and John Irranna (13). The offence is being registered against the building’s contractor and owner, the official said.
Prime Minister expresses grief at loss of lives
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday expressed grief at the loss of lives in a building collapse in Mumbai and announced Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia each for the next of kin of the deceased from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund.
“Pained by the loss of lives due to the collapse of a structure in Malad West, Mumbai. In this hour of grief, my thoughts are with the bereaved families. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest. A sum of Rs 50,000 would be provided to each of the injured,” Modi said.
The Maharashtra government also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh each to the kin of those who lost their lives. It also said that the medical expenses of the injured will be borne by the government. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray condoled the loss of lives and visited the Shatabdi Hospital.
The Chief Minister was accompanied by Mumbai suburban gaurdian minister Aaditya Thackeray, civic chief Chahal and mayor Kishori Pednekar, the CMO statement said.