Building caves in at Malad; 2 dead

The owner of the building, Lakhamshi Shah, was not present at the time of the incident.

Chief Minister Manohar Joshi visited the spot and said an enquiry committee would be appointed as the building could have crasheddue to interior structural changes. However, the exact facts would be ascertained only after the report is submitted.

Joshi also assured that the affected residents would be housed in transit camps and adequate compensation would be given from the Chief Minister’s fund. Others who visited the site included Home Minister Gajanan Kirtikar, Mayor Vishaka Raut and other officials.

Meanwhile, a resident of the building, which has in all 18 flats with three shops namely a medical store, a grocery shop and a tuition class, said since the past six months they had doubted that the building was sinking. Out of the 18 flats, three flats were empty. According to Ishwar Panjabi, a resident of the third floor who was at office at the time of the incident, both his wife and daughter escaped with minor injuries. He said there were 20 rooms in the chawl where four to 5 people were still trapped.

A shocked Mrs Fernandes, another resident, said both she and her husband were away when the building collapsed but said hertwo minor children and servant were missing.

Another resident Prakash Wadhawa (35) is out of danger with injuries in the hands and legs but is worried about his wife Jyoti (30) as there is no news about her. However, his relatives claim that his children are safe as his daughter was seen being rescued from the debris while his son was at school, when the building collapsed. Prakash said he was sitting in the house along with his wife, daughter and two employees of his cutlery shop, when suddenly the building collapsed. According to Jyoti’s cousin, Ashok Bhagchandani, the family had just shifted from an adjacent building also at Bachaninagar as the building there was on the verge of collapse and living there was dangerous. The flat at Sukh Sagar building is in the name of Prakash’s father who is now no more, he added.

A shocked relative told The Indian Express that earlier in the day he had spoken to one of the brothers, Jayantilal, who told him that one of the pillars of the building was sinking.According to Chief Fire Officer VV Rao, two girls in their twenties were definitely missing. Municipal Commissioner Girish Gokhale said the important task now was to save the lives of the people.