3 siblings die in wall collapse

Three siblings died while seven others of the family were injured when a 15-ft wall crashed on the shanty they were sleeping in at Nehru Nagar in Kurla on Thursday morning.

Three siblings died while seven others of the family were injured when a 15-ft wall crashed on the shanty they were sleeping in at Nehru Nagar in Kurla on Thursday morning.

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Bhiwandi residents Zeeshan (4), Aaisha (7) and Shifa Ansari (9) had come with their parents to Nehru Nagar four days ago to observe their maternal uncle’s death anniversary.

While Zeeshan was declared dead on arrival at Sion hospital, Shifa and Aaisha died while undergoing treatment, officials said. The seven injured, including three children, are being treated at Sion hospital.

At 2.30 am, the wall of under-construction structure fell on 70-year-old Nasir Ansari’s shanty, breaking down a wall of his hut.

“The loud noise woke us up,” said Haider Khan, a neighbour. “We rushed out of our homes and saw a rubble where Nasir’s house once stood.”

Added another neighbour Sumera Syed: “The noise was loud and the ground shook. We thought it was an earthquake.”

The locals started removing the debris to rescue Ansari’s family and relatives who were buried underneath.

“We rushed them to the hospital, even before the fire brigade or police could arrive,” said Siraj Babar, a local.

The police and fire brigade claimed they reached the spot as soon as they got the information.

The disaster control officials of the municipal corporation said the wall was built by the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority.

“Investigation is on to find out why the wall collapsed,” said Inspector A. Sawant of the Nehru Nagar police station.

In another incident, a slab from the roof of Nilkanth building at Goregaon collapsed, but no one was injured.