3 killed after portion of public toilet collapses in Mankhurd, Mumbai
Picture Courtesy: SL Shanth Kumar
Three people were killed and a few others injured after a portion of a public toilet collapsed in suburban Mankhurd in Mumbai on Friday morning.
According to police, the mishap took place at around 8.13 AM in Lohar chawl in Indira Nagar, Mankhurd.
A few people were inside, while some others were waiting outside the public lavatory when suddenly a portion of it caved in.
As a result, some persons slipped into the septic tank, an official from Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s disaster control room said.
“Our control room got the call at 8.13 AM. We immediately informed the fire brigade department. A team of fire brigade personnel reached the spot and retrieved three bodies,” he said.
“Some people were injured and admitted in the civic-run suburban Rajawadi hospital,” he said.
Details regarding the identities of the deceased and injured are awaited.
According to a local resident, fire brigade officials rescued over 20 people who were stuck under the debris. The incident occurred in a slum area where the lavatory was used daily by nearly 5,000 people.
Mankhurd police are on the spot and further investigation is on, said Mumbai police spokesperson Ashok Dudhe.
When contacted, a senior civic official said the toilet was maintained by Maharashtra Housing and Development Authority (MHADA).
Local residents blamed the authorities for not paying attention to the complaints filed several times by them about the pathetic condition of the toilet.
Further details awaited.
