Bhiwandi building collapse: Toll now 6; developer arrested on charges of culpable homicide

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Navnath Davle (Zone II) said, “A case was registered against the developers and others involved. We have learnt that some parts of the building were illegally constructed. We will write to Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) to understand better because it is the planning authority.”

Adhik Patil, Tehsildar, Bhiwandi Rural, said that so far six bodies have been recovered from the rubble and the rescue operation is still underway. “The rescued people gave a list of six people who were missing, of which four have been found on Sunday, three dead and one alive. Search for other two continues,” Patil said.

During the ongoing rescue operation, a man identified as Sunil Pisal was rescued by teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the Target Disaster Response Force (TDRF) at 8am. Avinash Sawant, chief of regional disaster management cell of Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) said, “A man named Sunil Pisa (38) who was rescued at 8 am on Sunday, 20 hours after the rescue operation began, has been rushed to the Indira Gandhi Memorial hospital.”

A local of Bhiwandi, Pisal, for the past year, had been working and handling packaging at Wardhman Compound’s godown operated by a food company. A friend of Pisal told The Indian Express, “When he was first rescued, there was no movement in his legs. He has also sustained many cuts and bruises.”

Sachin Dube, a senior official of the TDRF said that the rescue operation was expected to carry on until tomorrow evening.

A case was registered under Indian Penal Code sections 304 (2) (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others), 338 (causing grievous
hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees).

Police said they will also ascertain from local gram panchayat officials whether permission had been granted to construct the building. The building was constructed in 2014 above a godown, said an officer adding, following which the rooms were rented out. Officials suspect the building collapses due to damage to the structure.

A civic official said that the structure was a go-down wherein items used to make Indian Chinese food and sauce bottles were stored. The load of these bottles could have weakened the structure leading to a collapse, the official said. A police officer said they were also checking on the role of the godown owner and people working there, as they suspect that illegal construction could have led to the collapse.

Officials said that the two floors of the building had stored food products comprising glass material. A pool and machine (excavator) and JCB are being used for the rescue, the official said. “The rescue operation may continue over into the second consecutive night after the incident”, said the official.

Along with the Bhiwandi fire brigade department officials, two teams of NDRF AND TDRF and TMC officials have been deployed at the site for rescue operations. More than 100 jawans, with help of local people, are carrying out the rescue operation, said Patil.