What caused Ghatkopar building collapse? BMC can tell only next week

While a three-member committee was to submit the report by Wednesday, sources said they may need one more week.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is likely to miss the deadline for submitting a report on the cause of the collapse of four-storey Sai Siddhi in Ghatkopar on July 25 that killed 17 and left 13 injured.

Four-storey Sai Siddhi in Ghatkopar collapsed on July 25, killing 17 and injuring 13 people. (HT FILE)

While a three-member committee was to submit the report by Wednesday, sources said they may need one more week.

A senior civic official from BMC said, “We appointed a structural engineer to test the debris of the structure. This is will take some time. We will be able to submit the report next week.”

BMC chief Ajoy Mehta ordered an inquiry after the residents alleged Shiv Sena leader Sunil Shitap had tampered with the pillars of the structure to build a restaurant on the ground floor of the building.

Read: Mumbai building collapse: After 30 hours, rescue ops at Ghatkopar end, probe begins

As part of the report, the BMC officials are taking statements of residents, asking them to identify the pillars of their houses, studying the plan of the building and reports on the structural audits conducted so far. The report will also look at providing recommendations to avoid such risks in the future.

Residents of the building are yet to get temporary accommodation, despite the CM’s promise that it would be done within a week of the incident. They, however, got the Rs50,000 help promised to those injured, on Monday. The CM had also promised permanent accommodation within 8-10 days of the incident.

Ram Kadam, BJP MLA from Ghatkopar said residents will be given temporary homes by the end of the week. “We initially finalised 11 houses in a slum rehabilitation authority building. However, the building was in possession of the civic body. Later, we found a place in Bhandup, but it will be tough for residents to commute. We are trying to give them homes in Ghatkopar itself,” said Kadam, adding there is no policy to provide temporary or permanent homes to those affected by building collapse.

Binita Ramchandani, whose parents lived on the fourth floor of the building, said, “Every time we approach the authorities, we are told we would get temporary homes soon. On Monday, they told us 2-3 buildings in Ghatkopar have been shortlisted [for our accommodation].”

Read: After Ghatkopar building collapse, can BMC act on 22,000 other illegal structures in Mumbai, please?