Mumbai building collapse: Ghatkopar structure was neither dangerous nor dilapidated

Sai Darshan Apartment on LBS Road was not categorised as dilapidated by the BMC

The building, Sai Darshan Apartment, in Ghatkopar that came crashing down around 10.45am was neither dangerous nor dilapidated, according to the BMC’s annual pre-monsoon survey.

Rescue operations in progress. (SATISH BATE/HT)

So far, a three-month-old child along with five others have been reported dead in this collapse.

Operations to rescue nearly 30 others feared to be caught under the debris are on.

With the categorisation, questions are now being raised over the reason for its sudden collapse.

Sources in the civic body and residents pointed to the unauthorised repair and renovation work undertaken by the owner of the nursing home on the ground floor of the building.

According to locals, the loading beam of the building was altered, which led to furious shaking of the building before it ultimately came crashing down.

The local ward office said no notice was sent to the building as it was not a dangerous one.

The owner of the building had not taken any permission for reconstruction of the nursing home, informed civic official.

The report also states building owners need to not only obtain and compile architectural drawings of all construction stages but also procure all the structural audit reports.