Mumbai building collapse: 33-yr-old building was BMC staff quarters

Mumbai building collapse: The aftermath

While 20 people were rescued without injuries from the debris, search operations were underway last evening on a war footing to trace 10 more people feared trapped under the rubble, an official of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Disaster Control unit said.

Among the injured, the condition of some was reported to be serious, raising the possibility of more fatalities.

Situated near the Dockyard Road in south Mumbai, the approximately 33-year-old building was the civic employees' staff quarters. The building, which housed around 21 families, suddenly collapsed around 5.45 a.m, catching majority of the sleeping residents unawares, the official added.

Mayor Sunil Prabhu, who supervised the relief operations with top BMC and fire brigade officials, said priority was to rescue those trapped under the debris and efforts were continuing on a war footing.
Prabhu also announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh to the families of each of the deceased and free treatment of the injured in civic hospitals.

Municipal Commissioner Sitaram Kunte along with additional municipal commissioners Rajiv Jalota and Manisha Mhaiskar also visited the crash site during the day.

Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan summoned an emergency meeting of departments concerned and ordered top priority to rescue and relief operations besides giving proper treatment to the injured.