‘Structure got shaky after Cyclone Tauktae in May’

MUMBAI: The collapse of the ground-plus-three storey structure in Malad’s Malwani could have been averted, if the building owner had paid heed to the structural damage, said residents of the neighbouring building. The locals claimed the residents of the building and their neighbours had felt the building shaking when Cyclone Tauktae hit the city in May, leading to gusty winds and heavy rain. Mohmaad Momin a local from the area said, “During the cyclone when there were gusty winds and heavy rains, we felt that the building was shaking. Had the building owners paid heed at that time, this incident could have been averted.”

Amirul Shaikh who resides near the building said, “We had already alerted the residents that we felt the building was shakingduring the rainfall last month. Some work was also done but I think, it was not enough.”

Joint police commissioner (law and order) Vishwas Nangare Patil while speaking to reporters at the collapse site on Thursday, said, “It is a very unfortunate incident, and the building was illegally constructed. The building had suffered structural defects during a cyclone a few days ago. If proper action was taken at that time, this incident could have been avoided. We are taking legal action and going to book the contractor and owner.”

According to civic officials, the building was one of the loadbearing kind of structures mostly found in slums in the city. These structures are not properly built, hence vulnerable to collapse. Often, the owners add more floors to make more without roping in architects or structural engineers to build the same. District collector’s office had permitted the citizens in 1976 to construct ground storey houses under a scheme by the state government around four decades ago, according to BMC officials. However, almost all the houses have constructed additional two to four floors illegally.

Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alleged that the BMC knew about illegal structures in the area but did not act on them. Vinod Mishra, a BJP corporator from Malad, said, “We had complained to the BMC about illegal structures in Malwani area in 2019, but no action was taken. If the BMC would have acted on our complaints, this incident would not have taken place.” Bharat Marathe, deputy municipal commissioner of the BMC said, “We have written to the collector’s office several times asking them to take action considering it is under their jurisdiction.”

Malad that falls under P North ward of the BMC is one of the most densely populated wards in the city. Vinod Mishra the local BJP corporator said, “Since February 2021, area does not have a ward officer.

This ward is one of the most densely populated wards and BMC has given additional charge of this ward to another officer. How can such instances be avoided in that case?” According to BMC officials, process to appoint a full-time ward officer is ongoing and the file was stuck in the administration due to the second Covid-19 wave.