Why has crime branch not taken over probe?

MUMBAI: Questions have been raised on why the state government is not following the norm of transferring investigation into building collapses that involve high number of casualties to a specialised agency like the crime branch of the police.

The probe of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) staff quarters crash at Mazgaon is still being conducted by the local Sewree police station. The incident left 61 dead and 30 were injured.

Senior Mumbai police officials said the probe has not been transferred to the crime branch as there is no demand from residents. In most previous cases, they said people staying in the building had sought transfer of investigation as they had allegations against the builder and local civic officials.

However, since the Mazgaon building was BMC property and most residents were its employees, there were no allegations, the officials said. So far, the Sewree police have arrested four persons in connection with the collapse.

When a building at Lucky compound in Mumbra had collapsed in April, leaving 74 dead and 62 injured, the case was immediately transferred to the Thane crime branch, and 21 persons, including the builders and local civic officials, were arrested immediately by the local crime branch.

Even in the case of Aftab Manzil in Mahim which collapsed in June, killing 10 people and injuring around six, after initial probe by the local police, the state government transferred the case to the Mumbai crime branch in August, which is investigating the case. Similarly, when there another building collapsed at Mumbra in September leaving 10 dead, the Thane crime branch arrested the builder and other accused within no time.

Rajiv Jalota, additional municipal commissioner, did not respond to repeated calls and messages. MUMBAI: The survivors of the building that collapsed in Mazgaon on Friday are worried about their accommodation as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to shift them to a transit camp in Ghatkopar, which they complain is too far.

“We have lost our homes, but the BMC is insensitive to our grief,” said a survivor recuperating at JJ hospital in Byculla. “The BMC is accommodating us very far from our residence,” said Ashok Solanki, another survivor.

“At this time, they require emotional support and counseling to overcome the loss. Instead, the BMC is dumping them in a transit camp where it is difficult to survive,” said Neeta Makwara, one of the relatives of a survivor.

Solanki’s seven-year-old daughter will be affected the most by the change. Her school is located at Charni road and her father is worried how she would cope. “Her legs have been operated on and she has been advised not to walk for four months. How can she travel from Ghatkopar?” Solanki said.

However, local corporator Yamini Jadhav said the residents can be accommodated nearby. “There are vacant flats in Mhadaowned buildings where these families can be moved. I spoke to Mhada officials and they are ready to accommodate them,” Jadhav said, adding that she has informed the BMC authorities about the development.

Additional municipal commissioner SVR Srinivas said, “We decided to accommodate them in Ghatkopar as it is the nearest location. There has been no conversation with Mhada officials yet, but we will try to find a suitable location, if possible.”