17 Killed In Mumbai Building Collapse, Shiv Sena Leader Arrested

At least 17 persons, including a 11 women and three-month old baby, were killed when a 4-storied residential building crashed in Ghatkopar suburb of Mumbai on Tuesday morning.

The building, Sai Darshan Apartment, in Ghatkopar that came crashing down around 10.45am was neither dangerous nor dilapidated, according to the BMC’s annual pre-monsoon survey.

Five bodies were pulled out during the night. Two firemen were injured in the rescue operation and shifted to a hospital, the official said. The search and rescue operations are still underway.

The BMC has made temporary accommodation arrangements for the affected people in three nearby municipal schools, however, survivors preferred to stay at homes of their relatives.  

"This hospital has been shut for the past two months. He (Sunil Shitap) wants to turn it into a guest house here...," Mr Chedda said.

Swati Sunil Shitap had contested and lost the last elections to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), earlier this year on a Shiv Sena ticket.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis visited the collapse site last night and said, "An offence has been registered and police are investigating. I have directed the commissioner of BMC to investigate and submit report within 15 days."

Sources in the civic body and residents pointed to the unauthorised repair and renovation work undertaken by the owner of the nursing home on the ground floor of the building.