Navi- Mumbai: Catastrophic building collapse killed 3 while 3 others were injured

Sector 19, CBD Belapur, Navi Mumbai, collapsed, resulting in three fatalities. Furthermore, two others were injured and transferred to the hospital for medical treatment. As eyewitnesses stated, at around 3:45am a ground floor resident noticed that suddenly he saw cracks on the walls and they decided to evacuate the building immediately.

The building consisted of 17 flats and three shops. Generally, the building was occupied by low-income residents and suffered from a lack of maintenance. At the site promptly arrived 150 rescuers from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) fire department, and the police started the rescue operation.

The cause of the collapse is not known yet, but an investigation is ongoing. According to the statement of the authorities, the owner had illegally built an extra floor to the 15-year-old building. The authorities arrested the owner and the constructor of the building, and they are facing charges of homicide and negligence.

It should be mentioned that the rest of the tenants were transferred to a shelter in Belapur, while they evacuated all the nearby buildings to ensure public safety, as heavy rescue machinery was at the site. Overall, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis extended their condolences to the families of the deceased and assured them that authorities would take strict measures against those responsible for the tragic event.