Bhiwandi building collapse: They knew they were risking lives, but had ‘nowhere to go’

While civic staff had served several eviction notices, the tenants had resisted action. In the days leading to the collapse, one of the pillars of the building had begun to crumble, and residents had put up steel rods to support the structure, locals said.

“Today is a Sunday, my grandsons usually sleep late. My daughter too was in bed, while my son-in-law left early for his work at a handloom. We knew the building was weak, but had nowhere else to go. Several discussion to renovate the building had taken place, but nothing concrete came of it. The result is that we bargained with our lives and I’ve lost my daughter and four grandsons in that bargain,” said 63-year-old Barkat Ali, the father of Shahjahan Ansari, who was killed along with her four sons.

Shah said, “I’d met the plot owners last Friday and we were to close the deal for the renovation by Tuesday. But that changes after today’s incident. We took a risk and it did not pay.”

Read | 8 killed, 23 hurt in Bhiwandi building collapse as heavy rains wreak havoc

The lucky survival of a six-month-old Abdur Rehman, Subia’s son, lifted some of the gloom. Rehman was found rolling in the rubble and not crying, officials said. Rehman was reported “unhurt” and discharged by a Bhiwandi hospital.

Subia did not live in the building, but was visiting her father for the weekend. “She lived in nearby Shanti Nagar with her in-laws. Now I wish she had not come,” said Shah.

Watch Video: What’s making news

Shah’s neighbours, the Ansari family, recorded the maximum casualties with five deaths. “My grandson, Muddashir (20), was found alive in the rubble. As it was Sunday, there was no traffic and we managed to get him to hospital in 30 minutes, but he succumbed to his injuries,” said Barkat Ali Ansari

According to the post-mortem reports, three of the deceased died of head injuries while five other died of “internal injuries and suffocation”. “Most of them were suffocated after being buried in the debris. The victims had injuries to their ribs and lungs that led to internal bleeding and eventual death,” said Dr Amol Shetty, the on-duty medical officer at Indira Gandhi hospital.

Three of the injured have been transferred to Thane Civil Hospital. One among them remains critical.

According to locals who lived around the building, a loud thud was heard and despite the relentless rain, thick smoke filled the air. “The local mosque even made announcements for help,” said Shaikh.

The NDRF reached the site only around 2 pm. Till then, locals carried out the rescue work. Later, a dog squad was roped in.

“The injured were crying out but as more people arrived at the site, the cries of help were drowned in the noise being made by the crowd,” said a local, Anwar Momin.

R D Shinde, Shanti Nagar senior police inspector, said that the police will probe if a case of negligence could be made against the owners of the flats or the plot.