Thane tragedy: Absconding builders nabbed

(Maharashtra), April 6: Two builders have been arrested in connection with the tragedy of Lucky Compound in Thane where an illegal seven storey building collapsed. Jamil Qureshi was arrested in Siddharth Nagar district in Uttar Pradesh and Salim Shaikh was nabbed in Thane. A case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder against the two builders has been registered. The two were on the run after the incident on Thursday evening.

Meanwhile, the National Disaster Response Force has culminated the rescue operation in Thane. The death toll in the tragedy touched 74.

They have also decided that by this evening they will demolish the adjacent building as a precautionary measure.

Among the survivors include a 10 month old baby who was rescued 29 hours after the tragedy. However, authorities have not been able to trace the family members hence the girl, who has been name Gudia is being looked after by the staff of Chhatrapati Shivaji Memorial Hospital at Kalva where she is undergoing treatment.

A 65-year-old woman identified as Kutibi Shaikh who was rescued after being trapped in the debris for almost 30 hours. She is undergoing treatment at Chhatrapati Shivaji Memorial Hospital where although her condition is said to be stable, she is in a 'state of shock'.

However, not many have been lucky to have been rescued. Shabnam a survivor told the media that she had 'received a distress call on her mobile phone from a young teacher around 3 pm yesterday, saying she was trapped along with six-seven students, but lost contact thereafter'.

Three officials have been suspended for dereliction of duties, allowing unauthorised building to flourish, in spite of having no clearance for occupancy.

OneIndia News