11 killed in Mumbai building collapse

Several others are feared trapped as a portion of the Laxmi Chhaya building in Borivali collapses, report Megha Sood & Presley Thomas.

At least 11 people were killed and 15 injured when both wings of a 30-year-old seven-storey residential building in Borivli crumbled at 6.15 pm on Thursday.

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More than 60 others are feared trapped in the debris. All the injured have been taken to nearby Bhagwati Hospital.

Home to 56 families, the A and B wings of Laxmi Chhaya Building at Babhai Naka collapsed like a pack of cards.

“Eleven people are dead and 15 injured,” Mumbai suburban collector Vishwas Patil told Hindustan Times. “We are still not sure about the number of people trapped inside.” Patil added that some of the people trapped in the remains of the building had been contacted on their cellphones and efforts were on to rescue them.

“Several people were in a dispensary and a jewellery shop on the ground floor of the building. We are trying to rescue as many as possible,” Patil added.

Municipal Commissioner Jairaj Phatak added that it seemed like the building has collapsed due to pressure of an overhead tank. “Apparently, the residents had recently installed an additional tank and made structural changes for the same,” he said. “It looks like the building could not take the pressure. We are investigating further.”