At least 8 people have been killed and more than 50 feared trapped after four-storey residential building collapsed in Mumbai's Ghatkopar on Tuesday. 12 people have been rescued so far
Firemen carrying out rescue operations. Pic/Shadab Khan
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At least 8 people have been killed and more than 50 feared trapped after four-storey residential building collapsed in Mumbai's Ghatkopar on Tuesday.
#Visual Mumbai: 3 people dead, more than 30 feared trapped in residential building collapse in Ghatkopar; rescue operation underway pic.twitter.com/ESIdaGk1cx
— ANI (@ANI_news) July 25, 2017
Pics/Rohit Parekh
BMC Mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar who visited the incident spot to take stock of the situation said, "Five people have died and eight got seriously injured." The incident took place at L. B. S. Marg, near Shreyas cinema, Damodar Park, Ghatkopar. Eight fire engines were rushed to the spot. A rescue van along with 108 Ambulance also rushed to the spot.
According to the fire brigade officials engaged in the rescue operation, nearly 15 people have been pulled out of the debris so far and referred to nearby hospitals.
Eyewitnesses said in the morning they heard a loud sound, similar to that of lightning since it is monsoon season.
Twelve people have been rescued so far, and efforts are underway to rescue the others. The BMC's control room received a call at around 10.43 am about the accident, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) fire brigade department chief P S Rahangdale said. "Our rescue team, fire brigade jawans and other senior officials of the BMC have also reached the spot. The rescue work is going on a war-footing," he said.
The city and its suburbs had received heavy rains over the last several days, though there had been some respite since yesterday with showers becoming intermittent.
The Mumbai Police cordoned off the area while traffic was blocked on the Lal Bhadur Shastri road to provide a 'green corridor' to rush the rescued to hospital.
Residents gather near the debris at the site of the collapse in Ghatkopar. Pic/ANI
"Then I came out of my building and found lot of dust, cries and noise of people seeking help. I saw parts of the building collapsing," an eyewitness living in the neighbourhood said.
According to a local resident, it was a 35-year-old building.
The structure that came down this morning at the Ghatkopar's Damodar Park area housed around 15 families. Most of those trapped in the debris are believed to be elderly and women.
A resident of the collapsed building, whose mother and two other family members are feared trapped in the debris, lamented that the chances of their survival are slim.
Rajesh Diyora, a resident of the same building, said some commercial activity was being carried out on the ground floor and that might be the reason for the collapse of the building.
He said he was saved as he had left for his office before the building collapsed.
The building was not listed in the dangerous category, as per locals.
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