A rickety 117-year-old building with residences, godowns and a play school collapsed in the congested Bhendi Bazaar in south Mumbai on Thursday, killing 22 people and wounding 12 others, officials said. Eight to 10 people were still suspected trapped under the rubble of the five-storey structure, they said. Thirty-four people were pulled out of the massive stone-and-twisted-steel debris, of whom 21 were either declared brought dead at the state-run JJ Hospital or succumbed during treatment. These included five women. The tragedy struck barely two days after torrential rain brought the city to its knees, crippling road, rail and air services, inundating homes and leaving at least 10 people dead. Many suspect the downpour caused further damage to the ramshackle structure, causing its crash. [caption id=“attachment_3995935” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Over 30 people have died due to the building collapse in Bhendi Bazaar. PTI[/caption] Five fire brigade personnel and an NDRF jawan also sustained injuries during the rescue operations and were shifted to the JJ hospital. Two of them were said to be critical, while four others were discharged after treatment. Fire brigade officials said some nine families lived in the dilapidated Husaini Building, which also housed a play school. The children had a providential escape as the building came crashing down minutes before they arrived. The ill-fated building had got clearance for redevelopment in 2011, and was supposed to be vacated, Minister of State for Housing Ravindra Waikar said. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who visited the spot, ordered an inquiry by the state’s additional chief secretary. He also announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the kin of the deceased. The government will bear all medical expenses of those injured, he said. Additional chief secretary has been asked to conduct a probe to find out what led to this unfortunate incident, the chief minister said. “The redevelopment project had been approved by the agencies concerned, and subsequently this building was supposed to be demolished. The final approval for demolition was granted in May 2016, but a few families opted to stay in the dilapidated building which led to this unfortunate loss of life,” he said. Soon after the building crumbled around 8.30 am, rescue workers in hard hats were seen clambering up the mound and banging large concrete slabs with hammers to reach underneath to pull out the survivors and bodies. Cranes and bulldozers were deployed to scoop up the debris. Residents helped with the rescue efforts, hauling concrete slabs with bare hands. Siren blaring ambulances had a trying time navitating the narrow streets in the presence of large crowds that had gathered around the place. Prabhat Rahangdale, the city’s chief fire officer, told PTI that salvage operations will continue overnight. “The operations will continue till the time the entire debris has been cleared and all bodies and survivors pulled out,” he said. A 90-member team of the National Disaster Response Force is also involved in the operations. Some residents claimed that about 40 people belonging to nine families lived in crammed rooms in the structure, which was declared “unsafe” by the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA). The Saifee Burhani Upliftment Trust (SBUT), which was to have undertaken redevelopment of the 117-year-old structure, said the building housed a total of 13 tenants - 12 residential and one commercial. “Of them, the trust had already shifted seven families in 2013-14,” it said in a statement. “MHADA notices dated March 28 and May 20, 2011, declaring the building dilapidated, were issued along with an offer of transit accommodation to the remaining tenants and occupants,” it said. This is the second major building collapse in the city in just over a month, after the crash of a residential complex in suburban Ghatkopar on 25 July which left 17 people dead. With inputs from PTI
Mumbai building collapse as it happened: Over 30 people killed in Bhendi Bazaar mishap
A rickety 117-year-old building with residences, godowns and a play school collapsed in the congested Bhendi Bazaar in south Mumbai on Thursday.
 "Mumbai building collapse as it happened: Over 30 people killed in Bhendi Bazaar mishap")
MHADA blames SBUT
MHADA held the Saifee Burhani Upliftment Trust (SBUT) responsible for the building collapse.
The SBUT, run by the Bohra community, was granted the rights to redevelop a cluster of old buildings in the area, including the collapsed building.
“We had in 2011 given the NOC for redevelopment of the building and we had been constantly pursuing the issue. We have all the papers and information with us regarding it,” MHADA chief public relations officer Vaishali Wagh told local news channels.
She said MHADA had been constantly conveying to the families it was a “dangerous” building and that it had also apprised the SBUT of the risk.
Asked about the process MHADA follows once a building is declared unfit for housing, she said, “In technical processes, once we give an NOC for redevelopment, all further responsibilities lie with the developer.”
“Then all further processes and action has to be taken by the developer (SBUT). We had in 2016 given permission to the SBUT to demolish the structure as this building posed a risk.” — PTI
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
— 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”.
Read the full article hereDeath 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
News18 SheShakti 2025: Voices of cinema, sport and music redefine nation-building
At News18 SheShakti 2025 Delhi, women from sports, cinema, and music discussed breaking barriers. Kriti Sanon and Sanya Malhotra focused on equity in cinema, Mira Erda and Ashalata Devi on sports challenges, and Kavita Krishnamurti stressed humility and perseverance for lasting success.
More Impact ShortsTop Shows
