Mumbai: Four-storey building collapses in Nalasopara, five families escape unhurt

MUMBAI: A four-storey redeveloped residential building collapsed in Mumbai's Nalasopara, even as five families had a miraculous escape in the wee hours of Wednesday. No casualty was reported.
The collapse comes nine days after a five-storey building Tarique Gardens in Mahad, Raigad district, collapsed on August 24, killing 16 people and injuring nine. This building was constructed seven years ago.

The 25-year-old building in Majithia Park, Achole Road, Nalasopara (east) was redeveloped in 2009. Two years ago the building developed major cracks.
The Vasai Virar Municipal Corporation (VVMC) had declared the structure dangerous and evacuation notices were issued to the 20 flat owners. While 15 occupants moved out, five families, comprising around 22 people, including children and senior citizens, stayed in the building.
The families who stayed back claimed they could not afford the rent outside and were fighting a legal battle with the builder identified as one Abhay Naik.
Residents alleged that the builder had carried out inferior and illegal work. Residents claimed that the building was legal when it went for redevelopment.
On Tuesday evening, when residents were having an informal meeting in the building compound, they noticed a pile of mud near the gate. Sensing that the structure was further weakening, they decided to approach the civic body on Wednesday.
At around 11pm, they heard some sounds of falling rubble. The families stepped out and found that portions of the cracked structure had given way.
They waited outside and were discussing their next plan. At around 1am, a family even returned to their fourth-floor flat to collect some cash and lock their room. The couple Seema and Dayanand Deorukhkar picked up some cash and hardly stepped out of the gate, the structure came crashing down at around 1.30am.
The VVMC fire brigade personnel reached the spot and have taken up search operation. Families have, however, told firemen that no one is trapped inside the debris.
Power supply in the area was hit as the structure brought down with it some electric poles.
Families said that all their belongings and valuables were buried under the structure.
A team of around 20 firemen are at the spot. Work of clearing the debris is underway.
The sound of the crash woke up residents of neighbouring buildings. The area has been cordoned off.