Adjacent building houses 2 civic schools,residents jittery

Assistant Municipal Commissioner Sanjog Kabare said the first priority was to rescue those stuck in the debris. “We will conduct a safety and structural audit of the adjoining building later but as of now our duty is to save those who are trapped.”

Although the BMC has cut off electricity to the building due to rescue operations being conducted in the adjoining spot,the residents have yet not been given any advice whether to stay at their house or move out. Residents of the building who rushed out of their homes the minute they saw the neighbouring building collapse said although their building has not been listed as a dilapidated structure and was repaired last year,parts of the building are giving way.

“BMC had painted the walls,windows and changed toilet blocks under repair work last year. But if you see the building from inside,parts of the slab and ceiling keep falling and are a major danger to the residents,” said Poonam,whose father works with the BMC’s markets department. “The repair work was largely external and undertaken using the corporator’s ward committee fund. Internal repair would have strengthened the structure,” said a resident.

Another resident,Alka Gujjar said,“In the name of repair,the BMC has painted the whole building but not undertaken any structural audit to ensure that it is strong. If the repair work conducted last year was of good quality,then why do chunks of plaster keep falling.” Since the building is older,residents are worried about its longevity. “Infact,everyone felt our building will fall before any of the neighbouring ones as it is amongst the oldest in this locality,” she added.

“No classes were conducted today as most of the roads are blocked and children are being sent away due to the chaos in the area. But we still need to sit here to inform children that there are no classes today,” said a school attendant of the Urdu medium BMC school on the second floor. She said she was worried about the children if classes were conducted in the building in the future. Though classes were cancelled,some children were seen loitering around and playing within the premises.