Malwani building collapse: Lucky escape for owner, son; contractor held

Relatives and friends react on being told about the death of a person, at the site of the crash. Pic/PTI

In a twist of fate, the owner of the building that collapsed and his son had stepped out just minutes before it crashed to the ground, and hence, escaped. According to sources, owner Mohammed Rafiq Siddique had gone to a shop to buy milk while his 16-year-old adopted son had gone to a medical shop. Sadly, nine members of their family were killed in the incident.

The Malwani police have registered a case of culpable homicide against the owner and the contractor of the Malwani ground plus three structure, which collapsed on Wednesday night. At least 12 people died in the incident, including nine family members of the building owner. Another 7 people are seriously injured.

The police said the dead include tenants of the building owner. Pics/Anurag Ahire

According to sources, the owner had gone to a shop to get milk shortly before the incident, and his 16-year-old adopted son had also gone to a medical shop, which is why they both survived. The owner has been identified as Mohammed Rafiq Siddique, 48.

Rafiq is from Barabanki district of Uttar Pradesh and has a snacks stall at Esselworld. He did not have children so he adopted his nephew, Junaid Siddique, 16.
The police said Rafiq owns several houses in Malwani which he has given on rent. But he stayed in the building which collapsed. His brother Shafiq's family stayed on the second floor, two other families stayed on the first and ground floor on rent. Two children of his tenants also died in the incident.

People look on at the site of the structure that collapsed, during the rescue operations

"Rafiq and the contractor, Ramzan Nabi Shaikh, have been booked under sections 304 (2) (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 336 (act endangering life or personal safety of others), 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others), 338 (causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code," said an officer from Malwani police station. Later the contractor was arrested.