Building collapses in Mumbai; six killed, several trapped

Shiv Kumar

Tribune News Service

Mumbai, April 30

At least six persons were killed and many were trapped after a three-storey building in the city’s red-light district of Kamathipura collapsed today. Police and fire brigade personnel launched an operation to rescue people trapped in the debris.

The police said the structure was a commercial building with a factory on the top floors, while the ground floor housed a beer bar. The building, located on 14th Street of Kamathipura, was an old structure and was undergoing repairs when it came down at 2.30 pm today.

“Six persons rescued from the debris have been taken to hospital in a serious condition. More people are trapped,” local MLA Amin Patel told reporters at the crash site.

The injured persons were rushed to the state-run JJ and Nair Hospitals. The police said the building was located in a busy area and the building was bustling with people when it suddenly came down.

Expressing concern over the loss of lives in the tragedy, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis called a meeting of senior officials to get a status report on dilapidated buildings in South Mumbai which faced increased risks from illegal alterations carried out by residents and other occupants.