Two people were killed, while 18 others are feared trapped as a five-storey building collapsed in Raigad’s Mahad tehsil on Monday evening. Three NDRF teams from Pune have been rushed to the spot.
The National Disaster Response Force said the incident took place around 6:50 pm when the building in Kajalpura area collapsed. “Rescue teams have been moved with all necessary CSSR equipment, canine squad, etc.” it added.
Seventy people were able to vacate the building just before it came down like a pack of cards, district collector Nidhi Choudhary said. She added that an FIR has been filed against builders, engineers and contractors as prime facie it appeared that substandard material was used for the construction of the building.
A police statement said that the building comprised around 47 flats. Maharashtra cabinet minister of state Aditi Tatkare said that 17 people have been rescued, and local rescue teams are already on the site.
Expressing shock over the incident, former CM Devendra Fadnavis, Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said that they were praying for the occupants’ safety.
Shocked to hear about the building collapse incident at Mahad (Raigad) where many are feared trapped.Praying for everyone’s safety.महाड (रायगड) येथे इमारत कोसळल्याचे वृत्त धक्कादायक आहे. अनेक लोक या मलब्याखाली असल्याच्या बातम्या येत आहेत.सर्व जण सुखरूप राहतील,अशी प्रार्थना करतो— Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) August 24, 2020
The collapse of a building in Raigad, Maharashtra is very tragic. Have spoken to DG @NDRFHQ to provide all possible assistance, teams are on the way and will be assisting with the rescue operations as soon as possible. Praying for everyone’s safety.— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) August 24, 2020
Very sad to hear building collapsed in Raigad, Maharashtra. I wish all the people will be rescued at the earliest.— Prakash Javadekar (@PrakashJavdekar) August 24, 2020
Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray spoke to MLA Bharat Gogawale and Collector Nidhi Chaudhary to inquire about the incident. He has assured them that all possible support will be extended for speedy rescue and relief works. Deputy CM Ajit Pawar said that he has ordered operation on “war footing”.
A Reuters report quoted authorities as saying that 28 people were pulled out by rescue teams amid heavy monsoon rains and local residents had joined the operation at the disaster site in Mahad, an industrial town about 200 km (125 miles) south of Mumbai.
Local TV channels showed footage of the debris with locals and police trying to salvage the trapped people. The TV footage also showed at least one ambulance leaving the area as people surrounding it made frantic phone calls.
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