26 July,2017 08:45 AM IST | Mumbai | Vinod Kumar Menon
Siddhi Sai resident L J Ramchandani gets out of Ghatkopar building minutes before collapse, but his wife is among the injured; the couple's gold and lakhs in cash is now buried in debris
L J Ramchandani got out of the building minutes before it crashed
For L J Ramchandani, one of the oldest residents of Siddhi Sai building, the collapse was a mixed bag. While he got out of the building minutes before it came crashing down, his wife Geeta is among the injured, and the debris now contains her gold jewellery and lakhs in cash.
Ramchandani had stepped out of the building and was about to start his car when it collapsed. Speaking to mid-day, he said, "I had left my house a little past 10.30 am to go to my welding workshop. Suddenly, I heard people screaming 'building gir raha hai' (the building is falling). I thought some other building was collapsing, but suddenly I heard the trembling of my own one, and within seconds, it was all over."
Also read - Mumbai building collapse in Ghatkopar: 8 dead, over 50 feared trapped; rescue operations underway
Heart stopped
"My heart stopped for few seconds on hearing the noise and the cries of the people. Neighbours pulled me away as I tried to remove the rubble to find my wife, who was inside," he said. Ramachandi, who is a fabricator, added, "My wife had some gold ornaments and some cash (in lakhs), which was kept at home for business; it's all gone now."
"I am happy that my wife is alive and only sustained minor injuries. I felt so helpless when I saw the building come down like a pack of cards. We lost everything."
According to Ramchandani, the problems in the building began when the maternity home took over four flats on the ground floor, which were then converted into a hospital. Sunil Shitap, the owner, had over the years taken a few more flats on the first floor and converted them into an office. He was carrying out major structural changes when the building collapsed.
Ramchandani added, "When I left the building, I saw workers on the ground floor fixing up shutters to the openings; the incident happened around the same time. Shitap is highly influential and has a good network within the police and with BMC officials; I'm sure nothing will happen to him and neither will he compensate us for our losses."
No insurance
Ramchandani said he had not insured the property. He'd put his entire earnings into buying a one-room kitchen flat there in 1983. The present market value of properties in the building starts from Rs 80 lakh.
