Mumbai: Wall of Dharavi home collapses, one injured

The wall that collapsed. Pic/Satej Shinde

The wall facing a kitchen and bathroom of a ground-plus-one structure collapsed in the narrow lanes of Dharavi, trapping a 45-year-old woman on Saturday. The woman, identified as Priya Silvaraj, was promptly rescued and rushed to Sion Hospital for treatment.

According to Ramesh Shinde, Silvaraj's neighbour, the incident took place around 7.30 am. "Priya was taking a bath, when the bathroom wall on the top floor collapsed," said Shinde. On hearing her screams, Shinde rushed to the site. "She was very scared and vulnerable," said Shinde's wife Sangeeta.

Another neighbour, Prashant Pawar 24, managed to climb down into her home, as his house, adjacent to hers, was at a higher elevation. He started clearing the debris, so that she could get out of the bathroom.

Meanwhile, the fire brigade officials arrived at the spot and managed to rescue Silvaraj. "The back of her skull was injured, and there was a blunt injury on her lower limb," said a doctor at Sion Hospital. According to hospital records, she was not admitted for her injuries.

One of her neighbours told mid-day that she came back home in the evening and seemed distressed. Meanwhile, fire brigade officials have asked residents living on the same stretch to evacuate immediately, as their homes could be at risk.