Three-Storey Building Collapses in Bandra East, Rescue Ops Underway

Three-Storey Building Collapses in Bandra East: Several people got injured as a part of a three storied chawl building collapsed in Bharat Nagar area of Bandra East in Mumbai in the wee hours of Friday. As per sources around 8-10 people are feared trapped under the debris.

So far 12 people have been rescued. The injured have been admitted to the nearby hospital and are undergoing treatment.

According to the police the chawl collapsed around 6 am in Bharat Nagar area. Disaster cell officials said that rescue operation is on.

“Based on eyewitness accounts, we suspect that a cylinder blast could have triggered the overall collapse incident,” Ravindra Ambulgekar, chief fire officer of the Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB) told The Indian Express.

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He said around 10 people were suspected to be trapped underneath the debris of the residential building and some of the victims have burn injuries. “We have rescued 7 of them till now and work is on to rescue 3 more,” he added.

According to the disaster cell of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) all the injured have been admitted to Bhabha Municipal General Hospital and their condition is awaited.

“The second and third floors of the structure had collapsed, which we suspect were illegally constructed. The residents were staying on these two floors and got trapped underneath the debris when the house fell,” a BMC officer said.

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Emergency response was quick with 8 fire engines deployed to the spot. Teams from Mumbai Fire Brigade, Mumbai Police and BMC local ward staff are engaged in search and rescue operation.

A senior fire brigade official confirmed, "Search and rescue operation is underway. Further details are awaited."

Cause of collapse has not been ascertained yet. But incidents of structural failure are common in Mumbai during monsoon season especially in old buildings which are not well maintained and weather stressed.

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