Thane building collapse aftermath: Demolition drive begins

, Apr 9: In connection with the illegal building collapse in Thane, a decision to demolish 57 unauthorised structures has been taken. Structures in the Mumbra-Kausa area will be demolished in the first phase of demolition drive beginning Tuesday. A decision in this regard was taken at a civic body meeting at the corporation headquarters here.

It was also decided that the demolition cell will be strengthened and 15 more officials will be added to it. Senior Engineer Anil Patil will be in-charge of the massive demolition drive in nine wards. Also, nine legal advisers would be appointed to assist the corporation in legal matters during the drive. Some buildings, which are to be pulled down are presently occupied. They will be vacated and taken over by TMC

Meanwhile, a journalist and an architect have been arrested in connection with the tragedy.
Farukh Abdul (59), an architect and journalist Rafiq Daud Kamdar (44), said to be a conduit for officers were held on Monday April 8 by Thane crime branch, which is probing the crash.

At present, the total number arrested stands at 11, while the number who have been killed stand at 74.

Kamdar's name was found in diaries of one of the arrested builders, police informed. Earlier, nine people including suspended Deputy Municipal Commissioner Deepak Chavan, Assistant Municipal Commissioner (AMC) Babasaheb Andhale, Municipal Corporation clerk Kiran Madke, NCP corporator Hira Patil, policeman Sayyed, estate agent Jabbar Patel and building material supplier Afroz Alam Ansari were arrested.

On Saturday, builders Jamil Qureishi and Salim Sheikh were held from UP and Thane. A day after, all the nine were remanded to police custody till April 20.

Lucky Compound, a seven storey illegal building collapsed on April 4 ( Thursday).

OneIndia News (With inputs from PTI)