25 November,2017 07:36 AM IST | Mumbai | Faisal Tandel
Dead include the mother of the man who supposedly owns the three-storeyed structure, which has been registered as two slum houses
An illegal building collapsed in Bhiwandi on Friday morning, killing three and injuring nine. The fire brigade officials and NDRF were continuing rescue operations till late evening and trying to pull out another resident suspected to be in the debris. Sources said the congestion on the way to the building led to a delay in the rescue operation.
The building didn't have a name and was only known as 'Tahir bhai's building'
The ground plus three-storeyed structure is based in Navi Bhasti since the last seven years. The building was owned and built by one Tahir Rafiq Ahmed Ansari, who also resides in it. But the structure has been registered in the Bhiwandi Nizampur Municipal Corporation as two slum houses numbered 511 and 512. Four families resided in the building, some on rent. Locals claim the building has no name, but is known as Tahir Bhai's building in the vicinity. Incidentally, Tahir survived the collapse because he was out for some work, but his mother Jaibunissa died in the incident.
The casualties
The three dead in the collapse are Rukshar Khan, 18, Ashfak Khan 38 and Jaibunisa Ansari, 61. While the nine injured include Rehan Khan, 6, Salma Ansari 55, Khwaja Mehmood Sayed, 55, Asif Yakub Khan, 21, Abid Yakub Khan 21, Shakeel Aladiya Ansari, 37, Yakub Yusuf Khan, 58, Sabira Yakub Pathan 45 and Imrana Khan, 22. Parveen Ashfak Ansari, 35, is suspected to be stuck under the debris.
Datta Salvi, chief fire official of the Bhiwandi fire brigade said they received a call about the incident around 8.15 am, after which they reached the spot. "For the rescue operation, we took the help of NDRF and brought vehicles from Kalyan, Thane, Mumbai and other agencies for the rescue operation. Till evening, three people were declared dead, while nine injured were shifted to the Thane civil hospital and the Indira Gandhi hospital in Bhiwandi."
Falls on neighbouring slum
Another fire official said of the 17 people residing in the building, 12 were inside during the incident. "The building collapsed on neighbouring slum, leading to Ruksar's death, while his father Yakub was injured," added the official.
Sachidanand Gawade, Deputy Commandant, NDRF said, "The Mumbai police and other agencies made us a green corridor to reach Bhiwandi. Two teams with 55 members were carrying out the rescue operation. We pulled out two dead bodies and are suspecting to have another one - Parveen - stuck inside the debris who will be rescued soon.
Manoj Patil, deputy commissioner of police, Bhiwandi confirmed that a case is been registered against Tahir under section 304 (2) of the Indian Penal Code. "We have registered a case against him and have taken him in custody."
