Residents refuse to leave shaky building

Residents of two buildings adjoining Rahim Manzil, the building that collapsed at Pydhonie last week, have decided not to leave their houses even though the remaining portion of Rahim Manzil is tilting towards one of their buildings.

Residents of two buildings adjoining Rahim Manzil, the building that collapsed at Pydhonie last week, have decided not to leave their houses even though the remaining portion of Rahim Manzil is tilting towards one of their buildings.

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The residents were asked to evacuate their homes immediately after the incident and were homeless for six days.

On March 17, the front half of the four-storeyed Rahim Manzil collapsed, killing five persons and injuring seven others. The remaining part started tilting towards the neighbouring Mariam building, posing a threat to it.

“We were on the streets for six days and returned to our houses only on Thursday. Mhada officials have placed some bamboo pillars as a temporary precaution, but we will soon get our houses repaired,” said Ayub Umar, a resident of Mariam building.

Seventeen families of the two adjoining buildings were asked to evacuate immediately after the collapse as a precautionary measure. Mhada told these families to shift to transit camps in Dharavi, but they refused.

Narendra Faye, deputy engineer, Mhada, said, “We have fixed bamboo pillars, but it is a temporary solution. We suggested that they shift to the transit camps as early as possible.”

Meanwhile, Mhada is demolishing the tilting portions of Rahim Manzil. “The fourth floor of the building has been demolished and the third floor is in the process of being demolished. It may take five more days, as we have to be careful that it does not affect the neighbouring buildings,” Faye added.

Locals alleged that landlords often asked Mhada inspectors to not inspect their buildings.