Ghatkopar building collapse: Contractor arrested, PM sanctions compensation
Prime Minister Narendra Modi sanctioned Rs two lakh each for the next of kin of those who lost their lives and Rs 50,000 to those who were injured
The Parksite police have arrested the contractor in connection with the building collapse in Ghatkopar while Prime Minister Narendra Modi sanctioned Rs two lakh each for the next of kin of those who lost their lives.
He also approved Rs 50,000 each for those injured in the building collapse, the PMO said.
Seventeen people were killed when a four-storey residential building collapsed in suburban Ghatkopar on July 25.
The building, Siddhi-Sai Cooperative Housing Society, reportedly collapsed after its pillars got weakened due to ongoing renovation of a nursing home located on its ground floor. The flat leased to the nursing home was owned by a local Shiv Sena leader Sunil Shitap.
The heavy overnight rainfall only worsened the situation.
In the 24 hour period following the collapse, the rescue team along with fire brigade and NDRF jawans extricated 28 people from the debris, out which 17 people were declared dead.
The 11 injured were admitted in the nearby Shantiniketan and the Rajawadi hospitals. Two firemen were also injured and shifted to a hospital during the night-long rescue operation.
The BMC made temporary accommodation arrangements for the affected people and the survivors in three nearby municipal schools, however, most survivors preferred to stay at their relatives homes.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and BJP MP Kirit Somaiya visited the crash site and assured assistance to the aggrieved people. The CM also directed the commissioner of BMC to investigate and submit report within 15 days.
Meanwhile, Shitap and Anil Mandal, who was carrying out the renovation work, have been arrested by Parksite police in connection with the collapse.
The Sena leader was arrested last Wednesday while the contractor was placed under arrest on Saturday. The interior designer Ranjeet Agale, who allegedly approved the cutting of beams, is still on the run.
