Cramped alleyways hamper rescue ops

MUMBAI: Six children were killed and five others injured when a ground-plus-four-storey structure collapsed in a congested alley at Behrampada slum in Bandra (East)

MUMBAI: Six children were killed and five others injured when a ground-plus-four-storey structure collapsed in a congested alley at Behrampada slum in Bandra (East) on Thursday afternoon.

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Two earth movers, five fire engines and two ambulances were deployed to the area.

However, the slum’s narrow alleys made it impossible for any of the vehicles to access the site. This forced rescuers to remove the debris by hand and delayed rescue operations.

The two ambulances were parked on the main road.

“The biggest hurdle we faced was moving through the narrow by-lanes in the area. The alley in which the structure stood is too narrow for even two people to stand side by side,” said a fireman after rescue operations ended.

PS Rahangdale, chief fire officer, said, “Rescue operations were hampered by the narrow passageway, which made it impossible to deploy heavy machinery.”

Firemen, civic officials and local residents removed debris for over an hour before the first person could be rescued.

The cramped alley houses not only brick-and-mortar residences but also a masjid, a few restaurants and various shops.

Some of the structures along it are six storeys high.

Officials said the structure was weak as it was built of brick and mortar, and it could not take the load of the additional floors added to it

All six victims were from the same family.

“Out of 12 family members, six children and their mother were trapped inside; the father who works in a shop had just stepped out in the morning. Three children were in school,” said Rahida, relative of the family.

“All structures in the area are old and need repair. Officials call it illegal, but we live here as we have no other option and we end up adding floors to the existing structures,” said another resident.

This is not the first disaster the congested locality — rife with illegal constructions in the narrow lanes — has witnessed in recent times.

In 2011, a major fire gutted Garib Nagar, adjoining Bandra station and Behrampada.

Many people were injured and around 200 shanties were destroyed.

Then, too, rescue operations were hampered by narrow lanes and haphazard construction.