Ulhasnagar slab collapse: 6 dead

Six people were killed and one person was missing after the slab of a five-storey building in Ulhasnagar collapsed on Friday night. This is the second such incident in less than a month. At the time of writing, rescue operations by the fire brigade and the Thane disaster response force were underway.

According to the Regional Disaster Management Cell (RDMC), Thane, the incident occurred at 9pm on Friday. Sai Siddhi building, a ground plus five-storey structure located near Bank of Baroda, Nehru Chowk, in Ulhasnagar came crashing down like a house of cards.

“The slab from the fifth floor to the ground floor came tumbling down like a house of cards. Six people are dead and a rescue operation is on to find the missing. The six dead have been shifted to the civic hospital in Ulhasnagar,” said an official from the fire brigade.

A team of 15 members from the Thane Disaster Response force reached the spot at 10pm and assisting in the rescue operations. The building has 1-BHK flats. “The complete slab of the living rooms in flats, from the fif th to the ground floor has collapsed. So, all those who were in this room of their flats are stuck. Those who were in the kitchens and bedrooms of their homes are safe. Rescue operations are in progress,” said Santosh Kadam, head, RDMC, Thane Municipal Corporation. A huge crowd had gathered at the spot to witness the rescue operations. Police had to control the crowds to keep the area clear, so that rescue operations could go on unhindered. There are also locals are helping with the rescue. On May 15, five people, including a 12-year-old boy were killed, af ter the slab of a four-storey building, Mohini Palace, had collapsed in Ulhasnagar. The fire brigade and locals rescued around 11 people buried in the rubble.