A 40-year-old died and 19 others sustained injuries after a ground plus two storey shanty collapsed at Shastri Nagar, Bandra West on Wednesday night.
Those injured in the mishap, which was reported at 12.15 am, were labourers from Bihar and West Bengal. Of 19, 17 injured have been discharged, while one is still admitted at the Bhabha hospital.
Speaking about the fatal incident, senior BMC officials from H west ward said, “The land had been handed over to the Slum Rehabilitation Authority for redevelopment. The letter of intent was given and it’s the builder’s responsibility to relocate the occupants safely.”
An eye-witness to the collapse and a resident of the neighbouring shanty, Sayad Nazani told the FPJ, "The collapse made a huge scary sound and we all ran out with our kids. There was a woman with us who had recently delivered a baby and even she had to run out with her newborn.” She further said that a fire erupted at around 2.30 am at the upper rented portion of her shanty as massive rubble fell on the structure, damaging the electrical wiring.
“Fortunately the fire brigade was already present at the spot. So, we quickly alerted them and they doused the fire just in the nick of time. However, the belongings of the tenants and some cash, which they had saved for a wedding, was reduced to ashes,” she said.
Tenant M D Khaisar, who works as a tailor, bemoaned, "I had already packed my bags as I was going to attend the marriage of my niece in my village in Bihar. However, all my clothes and Rs 70,000 cash, which I had saved for my niece's marriage, were completely burnt in fire. All my plans have been ruined."
Another eye-witness and a resident of one of the shanty, Sufiya Khan said, “The structure came down crashing with the people, and fell into the sewage flowing behind the shanty. Trapped under debris, the victims started choking due to the dirty water. Swinging into action, the boys in the neighbourhood jumped into the sewage to save the victims. However, one person suffered serious injuries and couldn’t be saved.”
Mohammad Jasruddin, one of those injured, said, "Most of the victims were labourers, including some tailors. I work on a construction site. Yesterday, I had my dinner and was asleep when the incident occurred. Suddenly, we fell into nullahs. I lost all my belongings. Some people stole our money. Nothing is left, I don't know what to do."
Another victim, Mohammad Shahtur Alam, said, "My mobile phone, money, clothes, everything has gone. People don't allow us to go to the collapse site. If we think about going back to our native place Bihar, we can't go back because we have no money and belongings.”
Mohammad Jehangir, who also met the similar fate, was thankful that he didn’t sustained serious injury.
