Mumbai building collapse as it happened: Death toll rises to 22 as over hundred year old structure reduced to rubble

Waterlogging may have made building’s foundation weaker

According to an article in India Today, experts said that waterlogging may have made the foundation of the building weaker.

Experts said that heavy rains combined with strong winds may have worsened the health of the building.

The Bhendi Bazaar incident is unfortunate. The disaster management team is on-ground to provide complete support to families & authorities.

— SBUT (@SBUT_Mumbai) August 31, 2017

Nine more people rescued from debris

Fire brigade officials said that another nine people were rescued with injuries from the debris and admitted to the JJ Hospital.

Six officials of the fire department and one from the NDRF also suffered injuries in the operation.

The officials said that eight fire engines, one rescue van and ambulances have been are at the collapse site to assist the personnel in rescue operations. — PTI

Watch: Rescue operations continue

#WATCH #MumbaiBuildingCollapse: Operations continue in Bhendi Bazar; 13 rescued safely, 31 deaths in the incident so far. pic.twitter.com/IXwnS0lQXL

— ANI (@ANI) September 1, 2017

Death toll crosses 30

#MumbaiBuildingCollapse: Overnight ops continued in Bhendi Bazar; 13 rescued safely, 31 deaths in the incident says NDRF Asst Commandant pic.twitter.com/YijXSBglJA

— ANI (@ANI) September 1, 2017

#Mumbai Bhendi Bazaar building collapse: Death toll rises to 22

— ANI (@ANI) August 31, 2017

List of the names of deceased in the tragedy

JJ Hospital has released a list of names of the deceased identified so far, reported Mumbai Mirror. 

Hasan Arsiwala, Tasneem Arsiwala, Fatima Sayyed Zafar, Naseer Ahmed, Sayyed Jama Zafer, Bacchwa, Nazir Gulam Shaikh, Sakina Chashmawala, Mustafa Rais Shaikh, Najmuddin Cashmawala, Hafiz Mohsin Shaikh, Mahesh Nalawde, Altaf Hayder Mansoori, Abbas Najmuddin Chasmawala, Amantulla Abbas Chashmawala, Afzal Alam

Death toll rises up to 22

Mumbai Mirror quoted JJ Hospital sources, stating that the death toll in the tragedy has shot up to 22. The number is expected to rise further as 10 people are still feared trapped.

Blame game over Mumbai building collapse

As many as 19 people lost their lives when a 117-year-old building crumpled in a heap of rubble early morning on Thursday. However as the day progressed and the story moved beyond the immediate shock of loss of life, the authorities passed the blame on to each other. Here’s what all the stakeholders have said so far. 

Maharashtra Govt – We had given all relevant clearances, NOCs in time. The last notice to demolish the building was sent in 2016. MHADA is not responsible because redevelopment contract was given to Saifee Burhan Upliftment Trust (SBUT). 

BMC – It was a MHADA building; they are responsible. 

SBUT – We had given eviction notices to all the residents and had even moved out seven familie to transit homes, who were willing to relocate

List of the 15 people injured

Tasleel Chashmawala, Zajur Arsiwala, Abdullatif, Rufiya, Saeed Ahmed, Fatima Ummedwala, Prashant Gajbare, Tatoba Patil, Salim Husain, Khan Kamrul Hasan, Ahmed Ali, Gulam Bos, Iqbal Khan, Afzal Shaikh and Quresh Saifuddin

As reported by Mumbai Mirror

Mahindra Group chairman Anand Mahindra recommends construction companies to conduct CSR activities like pre-monsoon surveys of dilapidated buildings 

A tragic monsoon story that's repeated year after year. Can construction companies--as CSR--do pre-monsoon surveys of dilapidated buildings? https://t.co/XvuYCVb3HA

— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) August 31, 2017

Dawood ​Ibrahim’s brother describes building collapse

There was an explosion-like sound, followed by a swirl of dust as the five-story Husaini building in his neighbourhood collapsed, said Iqbal Kaskar, absconding gangster Dawood Ibrahim’s younger brother.

Kaskar, who lives in a nearby building, said he was at home and had just woken up when he heard a loud “explosion-like sound”, followed by a swirl of dust. “I immediately rushed down,” he said. “We felt our building vibrate,” Kaskar said, speaking to a Marathi news channel.

Not many people lived on the upper floors, but several workers lived on the ground floor, Kaskar said. It was a residential-cum-commercial building, he added. —PTI

Visuals of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ visit to the building collapse site

CM @Dev_Fadnavis visits Husaini #MumbaiBuildingCollapse site and announces ₹5,00,000 to the kin of those who lost their lives. pic.twitter.com/ZN3iRypK2v

— CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) August 31, 2017

Shaina NC says government has come up with “conclusive housing policy for dilapidated buildings for the safety of Mumbaikars”

The BJP leader also said, “In time of crisis let’s not play blame game and focus on saving lives of affected.”

In time of crisis let's not play blame game & focus on saving lives of affected #Mumbaikars #MumbaiBuildingCollapse pic.twitter.com/TP2MuPgJok

— Shaina Chudasama Munot (@ShainaNC) August 31, 2017

We all stakeholders hv to come up wth conclusive housing policy fr dilapidated buildings fr safety of #Mumbaikars#MumbaiBuildingCollapse pic.twitter.com/VPT8EFJ8oM

— Shaina Chudasama Munot (@ShainaNC) August 31, 2017

Samajwadi Party holds MHADA, SBUT responsible for collapse 

The Samajwadi Party (SP) sought to put the blame on housing body MHADA and the Saifee Burhani Upliftment Trust (SBUT) that had undertaken the redevelopment of the over century old structure.

“It is the MHADA and SBUT, which is responsible for the collapse. There should be an inquiry conducted by a sitting High Court judge and criminal cases should be filed against officials of the two agencies and immediate arrests should be made,” SP corporator Rais Shaikh told reporters.

Shaikh said SBUT should be made answerable as to why was there a delay in evacuating the residents when MHADA had already served them eviction notices.

“There are 16,000 cessed buildings and thousands of lives are at risk, the responsibility of which should be borne by MHADA,” he said. “I appeal to the Chief Minister to conduct a structural audit of all these 16,000 cessed buildings and make funds available for their redevelopment. Life has become cheap in this city,” he said. — PTI

SBUT states seven families were shifted to transit homes in 2016-17: Read their full press statement

pic.twitter.com/bcZCOnCCC1

— SBUT (@SBUT_Mumbai) August 31, 2017

PM Modi offers condolences for victims of building collapse

Collapse of a building in Mumbai is saddening. My condolences to the families of those who lost their lives & prayers with the injured: PM

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) August 31, 2017

Bhendi Bazaar building collapse: SBUT or MHADA, who is to blame for incident in Mumbai?

A MHADA document reveals that authorities were warned about the building’s dilapidated status in 2011. The observations were made during a pre-monsoon survey six years ago. The notice recommended that the premises should be evacuated immediately under Chapter 8 of the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Act, 1976.

The notice also mentions that if the clauses of the MHADA warning notice were not obeyed, the residents would be “forcibly evicted” with the help of the police and the fire brigade. The document explicitly mentions that MHADA “will not be responsible for any loss of life and property situated in the said premises… This (eviction) must be brought to the notice of all occupants,” the notice added.

However, advocate Dilip Shah mentions that “the overall liability is significantly higher for developers”. The building is part of the Saifee Burhani Upliftment Trust (SBUT) cluster development project. The SBUT says that the authorities are “on-ground to provide complete support to families and authorities”.

Death toll rises to 19; 12 injured

#UPDATE Bhendi Bazaar building collapse: Death toll rises to 19; 12 injured, confirms #Mumbai Police.

— ANI (@ANI) August 31, 2017

Watch: An eyewitness account of today’s mishap 

Watch: CM Devendra Fadnavis’ statement after Mumbai building collapse

Action will be taken in case of any negligence: Maha CM Devendra Fadnavis #TragedyPolitics pic.twitter.com/q7j8F0WMUl

— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) August 31, 2017

Man has close shave moments before Mumbai building collapse

Twenty-five-year-old Mohammed Rafiq had a hairbreadth escape as he managed to dash out of the dilapidated Husaini Building in Bhendi Bazaar moments before it collapsed, leaving at least 16 dead. 

“I had come to collect my belongings last night before leaving for my native place in Uttar Pradesh this morning. I ran out as soon as I heard a loud noise,” Rafiq said.  Some people in his room were brushing teeth when they heard cries outside, “Run… the building is about to crumble.”

CM Devendra Fadnavis announes compensation of 5 lakh for the kin of dead

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that the government had issued the No Objection Certificate for redevelopment back in 2011. He said that the government will launch an enquiry into the matter. He also said that the last notice for demolition was sent in 2016, despite that 13 families were still living in the building. 

The chief minister also announced Rs 5 lakh compenstaion for the kin of those, who lost their lives.

Maharashtra govt orders probe in Bhendi Bazaar building collapse

The Maharashtra government will conduct an inquiry into the Bhendi Bazaar building collapse in which at least 16 people lost their lives, state minister Subhash Desai announced on Thursday. 

“We will probe how the developer concerned failed to redevelop the project when it was granted the NOC way back in 2011. This is the time to provide rescue and relief to the victims and their aggrieved relatives. Later, we will fix responsibility,” he said.

He said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will chair a meeting to chalk out an action plan to rehabilitate those living in dilapidated buildings. This particular building was already marked for redevelopment as it was dilapidated. The Saifee Burhani Upliftment Trust (SBUT), run by the Bohra community, was granted the rights to redevelop the cluster of old buildings in congested Bhendi Bazar.

Lives of scores of children spared in incident by sheer luck

A report on India Today TV stated that a nursery school was run on the first floor of the building, which crumbled down on Thursday. However, all the children could escape the strategy as the school starts at around 10.30 am, but the incident occurred at 08.30 am.

State govt allotted Rs 400 Crore for redevelopment of old buildings in the area

The Maharashtra government had allocated a budget of Rs 400 Crore for the redevelopment and renovation of the old buildings in the Bhendi Bazaar area. However, residents claim that therenovation work has been progressing at a snails pace. 

The government has, however, claimed that the delays were caused due to the resident’s reluctance to move out of their homes.

Maharashtra minister blames residents, says people not willing to leave crumbling homes despite redevelopment orders

Speaking to CNN-News 18, Prakash Mehta, the state Housing Development minister said that it was not right to blame the government as redevelopment orders had been isued in 2016 and all the necessary permissions were also granted.

He said that the people lacked trust and did not want ka move out of their homes despite repeated warnings and requests. 

sari permission di thi

Death toll rises to 15 in Bhendi Bazaar building collapse, over 34 injured

#UPDATE Bhendi Bazaar building collapse: Death toll rises to 15 #Mumbai

— ANI (@ANI) August 31, 2017

MHADA notified residents in 2011 about dilapidated structure, issued orders to vacate

Latest images from Bhendi Bazar building collapse site: 4 fire brigade personnel too have been injured

Image procured by Sachin Gokhale

Number of injured rises to 34, including 6 firemen 

#UPDATE Bhendi Bazar building collapse: Number of injured persons rises to 34 including 6 fire brigade personnel

— ANI (@ANI) August 31, 2017

Fire broke out at Bhendi Bazar Collapse site which has been doused

#Mumbai Fire broke at Bhendi Bazar building collapse site; fire doused now pic.twitter.com/UJNAzSqiXt

— ANI (@ANI) August 31, 2017

Debris still being cleared as at least 10 more people are feared trapped