Bhandup wall collapse leaves two dead

Two persons were killed and two others injured after Friday night's heavy rains caused the compound wall of a building in Bhandup to collapse. HT reports.

Two persons were killed and two others injured after Friday night's heavy rains caused the compound wall of a building in Bhandup to collapse.

HT Image

According to the Bhandup police, water began accumulating in the Sheetaldevi chawl in Kaju Tekdi, Bhandup as pre-monsoon showers washed the city.

The four victims, all residents of the chawl, were trying to divert the rainwater into a gutter that stood between the chawl and the compound wall of a building when it unexpectedly collapsed. All the four victims were trapped underneath the debris.

Other residents of the chawl immediately called the fire control room for help. Reportedly, rescue efforts began within the hour with firemen, policemen and residents clearing the debris to find the victims.

The four trapped under the wall have been identified as 30-year-old Sunil Jadhav, Ravindra Ghanekar, 35, Rahul Gaikwad, 30, and Manik Jadhav, 35.

“Sunil, Manik and Ghanekar were rescued and rushed to the Central Hospital in Bhandup soon after. While Ghanekar was declared dead on arrival, Sunil and Manik suffered multiple injuries due to the impact of the wall collapse,” said an official from the Bhandup police. The official also said that Gaikwad was buried deep under the debris and that his body was pulled out only in the early hours of Saturday. Ghanekar succumbed to his injuries on Saturday morning, bringing the death toll up to two.

A preliminary police probe has revealed that the wall was built by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).