Illegal building collapses in Thane: Death toll rises to 58

Mumbai, April 5: Fifty-eight people were killed and 69 were injured when an illegal under construction building collapsed in Thane near Mumbai on Thursday.

Initial reports claimed ten people died. However, the death toll rose sharply on Friday. As per the latest information, 45 bodies have been found at the construction site. Some more persons are feared to be trapped inside the debris. Two toddlers have been rescued so far.

The builder concerned disappeared soon after the incident. A case of culpable homicide has been lodged against him.

The building collapsed around 6:30 PM, the officials said, adding, the injured were rushed to various hospitals. Civic officials said the building in Shil Dhaigar locality was unauthorised.

They claimed that it was built on forest land and was occupied at least up to the fourth floor. At the time of incident, there were around 35 families in the building, they said.

Rescue and relief operations continued till late in the night as victims were feared buried under the debris. More than a dozen fire tenders along with over 24 ambulances were stationed at the site of the accident.

A team of the National Disaster Response Force and hundreds of policemen from Mumbai were sent to the spot. It has been alleged that the building was illegal and did not have any proper certification.

Deputy Collector Manoj Gohad said the bodies had been extricated. Municipal Commissioner R A Rajeev and District Collector P Velarasu supervised the relief operation.

The injured were admitted to various hospitals including Thane Civil, CSM Civic hospital at Kalwa, Kalsekar hospital in Kalwa, while those in critical condition were shifted to Sion and JJ Hospital.

OneIndia News