2 buildings partially collapse; 2 die in Vile Parle, 2 feared trapped in Ghatkopar

In Vile Parle’s Gaothan area, two senior citizens of a family died and two others were injured after a ground plus two-storey building collapsed at 2.27 pm at St. Braz Road, near Nanavati Hospital. The Mumbai Fire Brigade deployed two fire engines at the site to carry out rescue operations.

According to officials, the building’s balcony on the first floor where residents had gathered to watch a procession passing by collapsed. The injured were taken to the civic-run Cooper Hospital where two persons were declared “brought dead”.

The deceased have been identified as a couple, Prishila Misauita (65) and Robi Misauita (70).

Aneesh Makwaaney, former BJP corporator, who was present at the spot, along with MLA Parag Alavani, told The Indian Express that two others suffered serious injuries. They have been identified as Sumitradevi (53) and Misauitas’ son, said to be in his 20s.

“The residents of the house had gathered on the balcony to view a band procession passing by. Perhaps due to excessive load, the balcony collapsed killing two people and injuring two others. No other injuries have been reported. BMC ward officers, police as well as ambulances reached the spot… We have also cleared the rubble,” Makwaaney said.

A portion of a three-story building in Ghatkopar’s Rajawadi Colony crumbled. (Express photo by Amit Chakravarty)

Angela Sutari, a local resident, said that there were four families staying on the two-storey building. “The building was almost 20 years old and the balcony had several cracks. Rain may have added to the trouble… While uncle died on the spot, his wife Prishila Misauita succumbed to her injuries in hospital.”

Bonnie Sutari, a neighbour, recounted that the Misauita family had been residing in the building for 15 years. “Even though the building is only 20 years old, the structure is very weak… The building has not been maintained properly and keeps on deteriorating as well as corroding after every monsoon. About a year ago, I approached the BMC to carry out an inspection. But I was told that only building owners can file a complaint,” Sutari told The Indian Express.

In the Ghatkopar incident, a portion of a three-storey building collapsed in Rajawadi Colony at 9.33 am. While no casualties were reported, some residents are feared trapped inside the structure.

Personnel of the Mumbai Fire Brigade, Mumbai Police and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been undertaking the rescue operations.

According to officials, three people who were trapped on the third floor were rescued but two others were yet to be rescued.

Bhalchandra Shirsat, former BJP corporator from Ghatkopar, said that the building was owned by Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA). “The bungalow, a portion of which collapsed, was nearly 30 years old and the area is a MHADA Colony. It was initially a ground-floor bungalow where top floors were constructed over the years,” said Shirsat.

“However, the columns and pillars were brick structures that became dilapidated over time. The owners of this building stay abroad and the occupants are tenants… maybe they didn’t pay much attention to the repair works. Since it was not under BMC’s jurisdiction, no notices were also served to them,” he added.