Metro 7A Tunnelling Triggers Massive Cave-In: 50 Residents Of Andheri East Evacuated Late-Night

On Friday night, 50 residents from nine families in P&T Colony, Sahar, Andheri East, were urgently relocated to a nearby hotel after a significant cave-in appeared on the road outside their four-storey building, according to Hindustan Times (HT).

The residents, many of whom are employees of the postal department, were moved to Hotel Aurika near Mumbai International Airport around 10 pm as a precautionary measure.

Photo Credit: PTI

The Incident: A Sudden Cave-In

The cave-in, which measured 20-24 feet in depth, occurred during the ongoing tunnelling work for Metro Line 7A, which connects Andheri East to CSIA Terminal 2.

The project, managed by the Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA), includes partially elevated sections and has been underway for three years. The unexpected cave-in caused significant concern among residents, who had not been informed of the tunnelling's proximity to their building.

MMRDA officials acted swiftly, filling the hole with cement overnight and cordoning off the affected area to prevent further incidents. However, the temporary relocation has left residents anxious about their return home.

Lack Of Communication

The residents expressed their frustration over the lack of communication from the authorities. According to Ashish Ningurkar, a resident with a young child, the tunnelling process had reached just outside their building without prior warning. "We were not informed that the tunnelling had reached our building. I am now afraid to return home," he said in HT.

Atmaram Bamane, another resident, revealed that MMRDA and the postal department held a meeting on July 18, informing residents that they would be relocated if complications arose during the tunnelling. Despite this, residents were not warned in advance, even though supporting iron pipes had been installed around the building two weeks earlier as a precautionary measure.

Immediate Response

On the day of the incident, residents were alarmed by a loud noise and soon witnessed the formation of a large hole in the road. Authorities were immediately notified, and MMRDA began filling the hole with grout and concrete by 1.30 am. The process was completed by 6.30 am, but the speed of the response did little to ease residents' concerns.

Rajesh Anantwar, one of the residents, recounted how his wife and child had crossed the area just an hour before the cave-in. "What if the cave-in had occurred then? Why should authorities wait until lives are lost?" he questioned in HT.

MMRDA's Official Statement

In a statement, MMRDA explained that the cave-in was caused by an underground cavity and weak local soil strata, which were not identified before tunnelling commenced. The tunnelling operations were immediately halted, and the subsided area was stabilised with grouting and concreting. As a precaution, residents were temporarily relocated to nearby hotel rooms.

MMRDA assured that tunnelling work would resume only after confirming the stability of the soil and the effectiveness of the cement grouting. The agency also emphasised that no individuals or property were harmed during the incident and that every precaution is being taken to prevent future cave-ins.

Concerns Among Residents

Despite the temporary relocation, concerns remain among residents about the safety of their homes. Abhijeet Awasarmol, another resident, pointed out in HT that while MMRDA is responsible for ensuring safety during the tunnelling process, the deteriorating condition of the buildings in the colony is a matter for the postal department.

"The buildings here are in very poor condition. The responsibility of these buildings where employees reside lies with the postal department," Awasarmol stated.