Flat owner arrested on charges of negligence

MUMBAI: The house owner of a flat was arrested for causing death due to negligence on Monday after a labourer and contractor died, and another worker was severely injured when a slab collapsed on them in Bhayander East on Sunday morning during house repair work.

According to the police officers of Navghar police station, Vinay Kumar Tripathi, the owner of a flat in Bhayander East, carried out renovation work without permission from the municipal corporation. Despite warnings to halt the work due to complaints from housing society members, Tripathi persisted. Around 10:30am on Sunday, just as work was about to begin, the slab containing the kitchen’s water basin collapsed suddenly. Contractor Chauhan, 55, and workers Makhanlal Yadav, 26, and Akash Yadav, 25, were trapped under the debris. Two workers present on the spot informed the Municipal Corporation and the fire brigade. The fire brigade staff reached the spot and rushed the three men to the municipal hospital. While Chauhan and Makhanlal were declared dead before admission, Akash is undergoing treatment.

Navghar police stated that the ongoing work was illegal due to Tripathi’s failure to obtain permissions.

“We have registered a case against Tripahi under section 304-A (causing death due to negligence) of the IPC and arrested him. The accused was produced before the court on Monday where he was remanded to police custody,” said a police officer from Navghar police station. The slab collapse raised questions on the stability of the building, which is very old. Therefore, Mira Bhayander Municipal Corporation commissioner Sanjay Katkar has given orders to prepare the structural audit of the building.