India: a residential building collapse kills eight children among 10 dead

Ten persons, including eight children, were killed and at least 20 others are feared trapped after a three-storey building collapsed in Bhiwandi area of Thane district early on Monday. The Bhiwandi Municipal Corporation had twice earlier served the residents of the building a notice to vacate the property as it was in a dangerous condition.

The Gilani building, situated at Patel compound of Narpoli near Dhamankar Naka, collapsed at around 3.40 am, while the residents were asleep. Around 25 families were staying in the property at the time of the incident.

A further 20 to 25 people are reportedly trapped in the building in Bhiwandi – about 40km (25 miles) from Mumbai – the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) said on Monday.

More than 40 emergency workers, including a team of 30 rescuers from the NDRF, were pressed into action for the rescue operation.

Emergency workers from the NDRF team pulled 19 people from the rubble – including two boys aged four and seven – to loud cheers from residents.

#WATCH Maharashtra: A team of NDRF rescued a child from under the debris at the site of building collapse in Bhiwandi, Thane.

At least five people have lost their lives in the incident which took place earlier today. pic.twitter.com/6j90p1GloQ

— ANI (@ANI) September 21, 2020

“Total number of deaths is 10… Rescue operations are ongoing”, NDRF commandant Ithape Pandit told AFP news agency.

Expressing anguish at the loss of lives, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted: “Saddened by the building collapse in Bhiwandi, Maharashtra. Condolences to the bereaved families. Praying for a quick recovery of those injured. Rescue operations are underway and all possible assistance is being provided to the affected.”

The building had been on a list of dangerous buildings and a notice for it to be vacated had been issued, the Times of India reported, citing Pankaj Ashiya, a commissioner in the Bhiwandi-Nizampura City Municipal Corporation.

Last month, at least 13 people were killed after a five-storey building collapsed in Mahad, an industrial town about 165km (100 miles) south of Mumbai.

In 2017, National Crime Records Bureau data showed that more than 1,200 people were killed in building collapses nationwide.