Two held for chawl collapse that killed 6 in Mankhurd area; residents rue rampant irregularities

Mumbai, Jul 6 (PTI) Two persons were arrested on Monday in connection with the chawl collapse in Mankhurd area a day earlier, which killed six, a police official said. The three-storey chawl (row tenement) collapsed on Sunday night in Janta Nagar in Mandala locality in the eastern part of the metropolis following heavy rains. An FIR was registered under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections for culpable homicide not amounting to murder as well as other offences on the complaint of one Mohammad Mukhtar Abdul Ali Shaikh (53) and two persons have been arrested, the Mankhurd police station official said. The case has been registered against the building owner, the contractor involved in the construction, the hutment owner, and other private individuals and government officials who allegedly knowingly facilitated or abetted the unauthorised construction, he said. As per the complaint lodged by Shaikh, the building had been constructed without required permissions and safety protocols. Despite being aware that the structure had remained in a dangerous condition for some time, those responsible allegedly failed to take corrective measures or implement safety precautions for the adjoining hutment, the official said citing the complaint. Further probe into the case is underway, the police official said. Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced an ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh each for the kin of the deceased. Meanwhile, residents alleged the area was full of illegal constructions, most of them on narrow lanes and alleys, which delayed the arrival of emergency services, including fire brigade vehicles and ambulances. The civic body and police have failed to curb illegal constructions in the area, they alleged. "How was the ground-plus-three storey structure, which collapsed, allowed to come up? It is completely illegal. Part of of the structure had already weakened earlier, but the occupants shifted to another room in the same building," said eye-witness Rukhsana. Another woman claimed residents, particularly youth from Mandala area, carried out the initial rescue operation, with police and civic personnel arriving later. "I live just opposite the room that collapsed. I was very close to the site when the incident happened. Five children and one woman have died in the collapse. The building was already damaged. Strict action should be taken against those responsible," said resident Ishtiaq Ahmed. Civic and police authorities are yet to respond to the allegations regarding illegal constructions and the delay in rescue operations. PTI ZA BNM