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The tragic collapse of a nearly 100-year-old building in Mumbai's Grant Road area has left one woman dead and four others injured. The incident, which occurred on Saturday, July 20, 2024, following a heavy spell of rain, has brought to light the precarious state of several aging buildings in the city and highlighted the ongoing blame game between residents and landlords. The building, Rubinissa Manzil, which stands on Sleater Road, had been issued multiple notices to vacate due to its dangerous condition by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA). Despite these warnings, many residents continued to occupy the building, leading to the devastating consequences of the collapse.
The collapse involved portions of three balconies on the fourth, third, and second floors of the building. The debris fell onto the roof of the first floor and the adjacent road, affecting the ticket counter of Grant Road railway station. An 80-year-old woman, Veera Wadia, a resident of Hormuz building on Sleater Road, was struck by the falling slabs and tragically died. Another resident, Vijaykumar Nishad, 25, who was perched on the fourth-floor balcony, fell with the debris onto the first-floor roof but sustained minor injuries and was discharged after treatment. Niket Shah, 26, was also treated and discharged. Two other residents, Atul Shah, 55, and Siddhesh Palija, 30, were admitted to the ICU of Bhatia Hospital and Breach Candy Hospital, respectively.
The Mumbai Fire Brigade responded swiftly to the incident, arriving within fifteen minutes and initiating rescue operations. Thirty-seven residents were safely evacuated from the building using turntable ladders as the staircase at the collapsed section was unusable. While the rescue operation was completed within two hours, the incident has raised serious concerns about the safety of old buildings in Mumbai. The building, classified as a cessed building, had been under the jurisdiction of MHADA. It had been subjected to numerous repair works over the years, but its condition continued to deteriorate. The building had reached the permissible ceiling limit (PCL) for repairs for cessed buildings, and the landlord and tenants had received multiple notices to address the required repairs. However, these notices were largely ignored, contributing to the tragic outcome of the collapse.
The incident has sparked a blame game between residents and the landlord. While residents accuse the landlord, Abu Sufiyan, of negligence in maintaining the building, the landlord has not yet issued a statement. Some residents expressed their frustration with the landlord's inaction, highlighting their lack of alternative housing options. Others, however, defended the landlord, claiming that their section of the building had been repaired and that the collapsed portion was in a poor condition due to the neglect of the occupants. The building's history of disrepair and the lack of action on the part of the landlord and residents have unfortunately resulted in the loss of a life and injuries to several others. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of proactive maintenance and timely responses to warnings regarding the safety of old buildings. The authorities must take swift action to investigate the cause of the collapse and ensure the safety of residents in other aging buildings throughout Mumbai.
Source: 1 dead, four hurt as portion of nearly 100-year-old building collapses in Grant Road