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17 dead in Bombay building crash

Five-year-old Vishaka was playing with her father Bhupendra Shivram Darji in her house on Tuesday, when all of a sudden she heard a rumbling noise. And before she realised what was happening around her, she had become another statistical entry in the list of those injured in the 'Sukh Sagar' building crash in suburban Malad in north Bombay.

"I had told my wife to make some tea for me and I was playing with my daughter,'' recalls Darji. ''Before I could know what was happening, the building next door fell like a pack of cards on our chawl."

Though his entire family managed to move out in time after the building fell, Vishaka was a little unlucky since an iron rod fell on her. She is currently being treated at a private hospital, where her condition is said to be unstable.

Vishaka, however, was a lot luckier. At 1500 hours on Tuesday, when Praveen Gala took leave of his 65-year-old brother Dhanji, who was staying alone on the second floor of the building, little did he realise that it would be the last time he would see his elder brother alive.

"I cannot believe it happened," he told this correspondent. "Fifteen hours after the crash, we still have not found his body. My sister-in-law and her sons have been watching the rescue operations round the clock, in the hope that he is still alive."

Seventeen residents died while 23 others, who were injured in the crash, are currently undergoing treatment at local hospitals.

Eye-witnesses said all the six floors of the building came tumbling down all of a sudden, catching the residents and onlookers by surprise. The building housed 36 families, who were recently issued a notice by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to vacate it, sources said.

Fire brigade sources have confirmed that many others are still trapped in the debris, and that rescue work is under way.

Heavy debris, which stands 15 feet tall, made the fire brigade and residents's rescue efforts almost impossible. Yet, quick thinking on the part of locals and faculty members of the nearby Children's Academy helped in the rescue of two children and a few others.

The authorities have mobilised help on a war footing. Nearly 100 policemen, including fire brigade personnel, have been pressed into helping with the rescue operations. Pitching in are three forklifts and 10 lorries, that are being used in sifting through and carting away the rubble.

Deputy Chief Fire Officer D S Mule says, "Our men have been working non-stop through the night to rescue people. Not just us, even the locals have come forward to help out."

The police have cordoned off the entire area, as much to help in with the rescue work as to prevent theft of household items which are lying among the debris.

The building was built in 1982, and 10 years later, the original owner had sold it to the present one, Lakkhan Singh, along with the neighbouring chawl. Last year, on April 25, residents experienced a slight tremor, following which the building sunk one foot into the ground.

Vinod Joshi, who lives in the adjoining chawl, says, "After the tremor we thought the building was unsafe and, along with flat owners, requested Lakkhan Singh to repair it. But he did not take us seriously."

Interestingly, Lakkhan Singh, who till then used to live in the same building, moved away last year after the tremor occurred, and is absconding at present.

Although the police have registered a case against the builder and contractor of the building, no arrests have been made so far.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Manohar Joshi, who was prompt in visiting the site, announced that an inquiry committee will be set up to fix blame for the tragedy and that the victims's families will be paid compensation. But the residents are not so sure about seeing either justice done or getting any money.

For the panic-stricken families, the main concern now is how to spend their days and nights till the situation returns to normalcy and the fear in their hearts subsides.

Additional reportage: UNI

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