Clarke Posted April 6, 2013 Posted April 6, 2013 Mumbai: More than 40 hours after the horrific building collapse in Thane, the death toll is still climbing. Seventy one people are reported dead so far and the toll includes nine boys and 13 girls. More than sixty people have been injured in one of the worst building collapse disasters in Maharashtra. Meanwhile, the authorities are assessing the full extent of the tragedy. Thane Municipal authorities have said that the building was illegally constructed on forest land and should have been demolished earlier. The officials added that complaints about the illegal building were made to the forest department but in vain. Municipal Commissioner RA Rajeev said the building was built on forest land and two notices were sent to the building. "We had repeatedly asked the forest department to take action. We had asked MSEB to cut electricity to the building. We have issued total notices to about 250 illegal buildings in this belt. We try forcible removal. It is not easy. Also its a congested area our equipment is unusable here," said Rajeev. The concerned deputy municipal commissioner and senior police inspector have been suspended, Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan said after visiting the collapse site on Friday. The state government has also announced Rs 2 lakh each to the next of kin of those killed and Rs 50,000 each to those seriously injured, the Chief Minister said. Chavan, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Home Minister RR Patil, Thane's Guardian Minister Ganesh Naik, Minister of State for Tribal Welfare Rajendra Gavit visited the collapse site as well as the hospitals and enquired about the health of the injured. The National Disaster Response Force, which is leading the rescue efforts, said many children are still trapped in the debris. Among those injured is a little girl, whose parents are yet to be traced. The girl who says her name is Sandhya Thakur, is being looked after in the hospital by her rescuer. The four-year-old was found with several injuries and needs a CT scan. Sandhya's mother reportedly succumbed to her injuries on Friday. While children are looking for parents and the parents are looking for children, there are those like Sandhya who have not been told that their parents are no more. Sandhya's mother died on a bed close to hers and there is no news of any other relatives. With entire families being wiped out, extended family members are rushing in to complete formalities and get news of their family and with most documents buried under the rubble, they're finding it difficult to prove identities to claim bodies. One of the survivors of the mishap Mohd Yamin, resident of fifth floor, said, "The surrounding buildings charge around Rs 1500. But here, the builder charged only Rs 500 and gave the place for rent to as many people as possible." So who will be held accountable for the collapse? For the survivors there is a feeling that nothing can compensate their loss. Meanwhile, the police have registered a case of culpable homicide against the builder, who remains untraceable. The incident took place at 6:30 pm on Thursday following which fire tenders and medical teams were rushed to the spot. Several people remain trapped under the debris and the rescue operations still continue. According to Deputy Collector Manoj Gohad, the building in the Shil Dhaigar locality was unauthorised and was occupied up to the fourth floor. Around 28 families were reportedly moved into the building even while construction was on and were living without an occupancy certificate because the builder feared the building would be demolished otherwise. The injured have been admitted to various hospitals including Thane Civil, CSM Civic hospital at Kalwa, Kalsekar hospital in Kalwa, while those in critical condition were shifted to Sion and JJ Hospital. Meanwhile, former Mumbai municipal commissioner GR Khairnar, known as the Demolition Man for his firm stand against illegal constructions, has questioned the Thane Municipality's motive in turning a blind eye to the building's illegalities. "There is a lame excuse that municipal authorities cannot cope with illegal construction. Police, municipality all are involved in this so each can blame the other. Builder will be punished but municipal authorities are more responsible," said Khairnar. Despite the blame game, the essential questions that surrounds this tragedy are: 1. How did this building get an electricity and water connection, enabling residents to live in it? 2. Why did the municipality not act against residents even after learning the building did not have an occupancy certificate? http://ibnlive.in.com/news/thane-building-collapse-63-dead-marathon-rescue-operation-still-on/383500-3-237.html Pathetic governance as usual and the jugaadu public paid big time
Raghav_12 Posted April 6, 2013 Posted April 6, 2013 Big tragedy. Builders should be tried for murder. It is high time builders be regulated by government else it is just matter of time we hear more about such tragedies. In whole real estate industry corruption and mal-practices are rampant. Almost all builders use sub-standard material in construction compromising safety of all flat owners, all government licenses are bought through corruption without any kind of inspection. Nobody has any kind of accountability and builders as a rule have scant respect for law and order.
coffee_rules Posted April 6, 2013 Posted April 6, 2013 colossal tragedy. What a sad day it will be for people who have lost their dear ones in the family. RIP to the dead.
mhr123 Posted April 6, 2013 Posted April 6, 2013 yaar.. soo sad... so many buildings are collapsing here in India .. almost 2-3 per year.. and its quite unheard of abroad. Something is terribly wrong somewhere down the line.
mhr123 Posted April 6, 2013 Posted April 6, 2013 Big tragedy. Builders should be tried for murder. It is high time builders be regulated by government else it is just matter of time we hear more about such tragedies. In whole real estate industry corruption and mal-practices are rampant. Almost all builders use sub-standard material in construction compromising safety of all flat owners, all government licenses are bought through corruption without any kind of inspection. Nobody has any kind of accountability and builders as a rule have scant respect for law and order. Not only him .. also the person who passed this building.... Dulhaa se saath saare barati khaate hai ... from a low minister to high ranking minister all would have some share and in doing so Builder must have had little money to invest in some decent construction.
suma25 Posted April 6, 2013 Posted April 6, 2013 hmmm... the building was not regularised .It had come up in three months and still was under construction when the people moved in . The builders wer earlier into scrap dealing business before moving into construction I am sort of torn on the issue . Feel sad that so many people lost their life about 72 ( most of them kids and women) But at the same time I feel The people who moved in are also partly /somewhat responsible . They got lured in by greed as they were living there free of cost or had to pay neglible amt to stay there .You get what you pay for. in this case they paid **** and they got **** for a building.
(8).thumb.jpeg.0752419e01d6cfbfc0be0f4eedb85663.jpeg)
Recommended Posts