The victims have been identified as: Arifa Shaikh, 9, Jhoni Irrana, 13, plus nine members of a single family — Alfisa S. Siddiqui, 18-month old, Afina S. Siddiqui, 6, Sahil S. Sayyed, 9, Alisha S. Siddiqui, 10, Taher S. Siddiqui, 12, Taufik S. Siddiqui, 15, Raisabano Siddiqui, 40, Ishratbano S. Siddiqui, 40, and Shafiq M. Siddiqui, 45.
MUMBAI — In the first major monsoon-related tragedy, at least 11 persons were killed and 7 more injured when a two-storied residential building collapsed and crashed on an adjoining tenement in Malad west late on Wednesday, officials said here on Thursday.
Around 11.30 p.m. on Wednesday, a ground-plus-two storied house crashed and fell on an adjoining tenement in the New Collector’s Colony at Malvani, Malad west as the city was clobbered with heavy rains.
So far, 11 persons have perished in the incident, comprising 9 from a single family, and after the locals raised an alarm that a few more may still be trapped under the huge mound of rubble, efforts were made to dig them out.
A majority of the victims killed are minors while another 17 were rescued by the locals, the Mumbai Fire Brigade, SDRF and others in the nightlong operations which continued at daybreak braving intermittent rains.
Mumbai Guardian Minister Aslam Sheikh, who is the local MLA, visited the tragedy site and directed the rescue and relief operations, besides other top police and civic officials.
The victims have been identified as: Arifa Shaikh, 9, Jhoni Irrana, 13, plus nine members of a single family — Alfisa S. Siddiqui, 18-month old, Afina S. Siddiqui, 6, Sahil S. Sayyed, 9, Alisha S. Siddiqui, 10, Taher S. Siddiqui, 12, Taufik S. Siddiqui, 15, Raisabano S. Siddiqui, 40, Ishratbano S. Siddiqui, 40, and Shafiq M. Siddiqui, 45.
Among the 7 admitted to the Dr BR Ambedkar Shatabdi Hospital, the condition of at least 3 is critical, while one was discharged after treatment for minor injuries this morning.
The IMD has forecast heavy to very heavy rains in Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Raigad, over the 3-4 days and the state has geared up all agencies to combat any situation.
Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray Visits the injured
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday afternoon visited the injured victims of the house crash in Malad.
Accompanied by Ministers Aslam Sheikh and Aditya Thackeray, Mayor Kishori Pednekar and Municipal Commissioner I.S. Chahal and other officials, the CM enquired after the health of the victims, the course of their treatment and other details with the attending medicos.
Thackeray also announced a compensation of Rs 500,000 to kin of each of the deceased 11 persons, mostly minors, who perished in the house collapse – the first major monsoon-related tragedy in Mumbai this year.
He added that the government would bear the entire treatment cost of the injured persons.
Bharatiya Janata Party’s Leader of Opposition (Council) Pravin Darekar visited the crash site and slammed the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for laxity in the matter.
“The local MP Gopal Shetty had warned in writing to the BMC highlighting the dangers of many of these illegal multi-storied tenements, which posed a huge risk in monsoon. But nothing was done about it,” Darekar said. — IANS
