In the early hours of Tuesday morning, a 50-year-old building in Thane, on the outskirts of Mumbai, came crashing down with several residents fast asleep inside.
The building housed five families, and the 2:00 AM collapse left 12 people dead, seven injured and several more trapped in the debris.
Local fire officials responded within 15 minutes and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) was on hand by approximately 4:00 AM to search for survivors in what was termed a “pancake collapse.”
Heavy-duty cranes and sniffer dogs came in for a rescue operation that lasted eight hours and reportedly saved 15 people caught under the rubble.
Source: www.thehindu.com
NDTV reports that in both cases, the municipal corporation issued warnings earlier this year to vacate the buildings, which government authorities categorized as dangerous structures. With building owners offering no provisions for alternate accommodations, however, some residents ignored the notices. There were also reports of ongoing disputes between building owners and residents in the case of the Tuesday morning collapse.
Housing Minister Prakash Mehta said, “We have to think of compulsory rehabilitation in case of dilapidated buildings so that people are not in danger. We are preparing a draft that would overlook the owner-tenant dispute,” the Deccan Herald reports.
These tragic incidents further highlight the extreme housing crisis in the burgeoning metropolis, where affordable residential housing is woefully scarce.
Article Sources:
The Hindustan Times, NDTV, the Deccan Herald, the Indian Express
Photo Sources:
Featured Image: www.dailymail.co.uk
Building Collapse, Housing Crisis, India, Mumbai, Thane, Tragedy
Dilshad Burman
Author
Dilshad Burman is an award winning TV host and Canadian media personality. Born in Mumbai, India, she was surrounded by its creative energy and grew up with a passion for music, film and television. While completing her Bachelor of Arts in English literature from The University of Mumbai, she i...
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