1 killed, 3 injured in mudslide at Haji Ali

A 21-year-old labourer, Rammaruti Suke, was killed on Monday after heavy showers triggered a mudslide and a 40-feet-high retaining wall came crashing down on him at Haji Ali.

A 21-year-old labourer, Rammaruti Suke, was killed on Monday after heavy showers triggered a mudslide and a 40-feet-high retaining wall came crashing down on him at Haji Ali.

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Three others were injured in the incident, which took place at noon near the Heera Panna shopping centre; the safety wall had been built on the edge of the hillock near the complex.

As a precautionary measure, civic authorities have vacated Vellard View housing society, a 10-storey building located right next to the hill.

The housing society was badly affected by the mudslide. Its parking lot is the only gap between the hill and the building.

Suke and other labourers were carrying out repair work in the building compound when the wall collapsed.

Manojkumar Mishra, 30, one of the drivers waiting at the parking lot, was also injured and has been admitted to Jaslok hospital, while labourer Mohammed Shabib, 21, has suffered serious stomach injuries and is currently in the ICU of Nair hospital.

Umesh Kashte, 35, an engineer at the site, called the fire brigade. “He was stuck inside the debris and called from his cellphone. We went to the garage in the parking lot, where we made a hole in a partition wall and rescued him,” said AN Shinde, chief fire officer. Kashte suffered only minor injuries.

The building was vacated immediately as a precautionary measure. “The pillars of the building’s C-wing seem to have bent and can prove a risk. The residents can go back there only after repairs are complete. For the residents of B-wing, the debris need to removed first. The A-wing is safe, based on prima facie observations by our structural engineer," said Parag Masurkar, ward officer, D ward.

Residents have made arrangements to stay elsewhere or with relatives.