Govandi building collapse: Family was asked to leave dangerous house

Rescuers at the collapse spot in Govandi. Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi

As levels continue to be constructed on top of brick structures in slums, another such structure collapsed amid heavy rains in Govandi's Shivaji Nagar, leading to the death of four and injury to seven. The house that collapsed in the wee hours of Friday was served a notice for vacating as it was dilapidated.

According to the BMC's Disaster Cell, the incident occurred around 4.30 am. A call was received by the fire brigade control room and a rescue team rushed to the spot. Four members of the Shaikh family died and two were injured. Five others from the neighbourhood were injured too. Other members of the Shaikh family escaped the incident as they were not home.

The BMC has now taken up the task of vacating premises surrounding the house. Two or three adjoining houses have been emptied and will be demolished as they have been deemed dangerous, too. These people were offered shelter at a municipal school but arranged their own accommodation.

The ground-plus-one residence of the Shaikh family also had a second floor made with metal sheets, which too, came crashing down.

While the rescue operation was still going on at the spot on Friday, sources said that it is unlikely that anyone else would be found under the debris. Assistant Municipal Commissioner Mahendra Ubale of M East ward said, "We had served the dilapidated structure a notice but the family continued to live there. Adjoining houses have been emptied too. We will demolish them as the collapsed structure affected them."

This is the third house collapse in the city where lives have been lost. Piling on floors on top of brick structures in slums is a common practice in areas such as Bandra East and Malwani.

4.30 AM
Approx. time the house collapsed on Friday