Mumbai building collapse: 6 killed, residents blame Sena leader’s nursing home
Eight people were killed and 40 are feared trapped after a building collapsed in Mumbai’s Ghatkopar on Tuesday morning.
The residents of a building that collapsed in Mumbai on Tuesday killing six people have blamed a Shiv Sena leader for the mishap, saying renovation being carried out in his ground floor nursing home was the cause. Civic chief Ajoy Mehta has asked a two-member committee to submit a report within 15 days.
The nursing home is reportedly owned by Sena leader Sunil Sitap.
The incident took place at about 10.45am at the four-storey Sai Darshan building in Mumbai’s Ghatkopar area. Eighteen people have been rescued so far and at least 40 are feared trapped. Live updates
“There was renovation work being carried out in the building. There was a nursing home, named Sitap Nursing Home, on the ground floor which is owned by Sunil Sitap who is a local Shiv Sena leader. A meeting of residents was also called last night opposing this renovation work,” said one resident.
However, BMC officials are yet to ascertain the reason behind the collapse.
“We will investigate the matter and take action against the culprits,” said BMC mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar.
Former housing minister and ex-chairman of the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) Sachin Ahir, who belongs to the NCP, has demanded an FIR under Section 304A (causing death due to negligence) against the people responsible.
Congress leader Praveen Chheda, the former MLA from this constituency, has said the onus of compensating the victims lies on Sitap.
“The property belongs to Sena’s S. Sitap. He was running a hospital on the ground floor and was now going to run a guest house,” he said.