Mumbai: Just one month into the monsoon, Mumbai has witnessed 25 deaths and with injuries to 53 people caused due to rains. According to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) data, more than 600 rain-related incidents, ranging from house and tree collapse to short circuits and landslides have been reported since June 1 this year. The highest number of victims (19 deaths) were reported in the building collapse at Kurla last week.
The BMC sends notices to residents of dilapidated buildings and in landslide areas, apart from carrying out the trimming of dangerous trees as pre-monsoon measures. However, despite taking all precautions, the city still experiences incidents such as landslides and building collapses. The civic body has identified 382 dilapidated buildings this monsoon season, of which people still reside in 199 dangerous buildings.
The four-storey building that collapsed in Kurla on June 27 claimed 19 lives and left 33 injured. Last week, two more buildings collapsed but no casualties were reported since the buildings were vacated. A total of 23 deaths and injuries to 47 people were reported in house / building collapse incidents. There are 72 vulnerable spots identified for landslides. The city witnessed six landslides in just one month, injuring two people. Further, 325 tree fall incidents were reported during the month, with four people being injured.
The BMC is conducting recce along with the other agencies like the National Disaster Response Force and the Fire Brigade, to identify flooding spots, landslide areas and dangerous buildings this year. Authorities will also rationalise evacuation strategies and gauge the requirement and equipment of manpower.
According to data received from the BMC, 5,441 incidents of building and tree collapse were reported in the city from 2013 to 2022. These resulted in the deaths of 367 people while 1,135 were injured in the incidents.
