At least 3 killed as bldg collapses in Bhiwandi

Innocents continue to become victims of greed and apathy as another building collapsed on Thursday, this time in Bhiwandi, killing three people. Three more are feared trapped in the debris and rescue operations were on late into the night.

Innocents continue to become victims of greed and apathy as another building collapsed on Thursday, this time in Bhiwandi, killing three people. Three more are feared trapped in the debris and rescue operations were on late into the night.

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The incident occurred at 1am as the one-storey structure housing factories and godowns gave way in the far-central suburb’s Kalher village. The Natio-nal Disaster Response Force (NDRF) was able to rescue 26 persons from the rubble.

According to initial reports, ongoing construction of an unauthorised second floor led to the collapse. Officials from the Kopar gram panchayat, under whose jurisdiction the area falls, said they had issued a notice for the illegal construction.

The police registered a case against the owners of the structure, Arihant Constructions, and also called in the forensic department to help in the investigation.

“We are now procuring legal documents from the gram panchayat,” said DB Patil, senior inspector from Narpoli police station.

“The forensic team will analyse the quality of work, and the material used in construction.”

In the last three months, 101 people have died in four such incidents — two of them occurred in Mumbra, and one each in Mahim and Dahisar.