Eleven dead as 3-storey building collapses in Mumbai

Mumbai: At least 11 people, including eight children, were killed after a three-story building collapsed on another in India's commercial hub of Mumbai amidst heavy rains and flooding.

Monsoon rains caused a residential building to collapse in the Indian city of Mumbai late on Wednesday.

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation confirmed that at least 11 people, including eight children, were killed and several others injured. Rescuers fear more people could still be trapped inside.

How did the building collapse?

The three-story building fell on top of another building in Mumbai’s northern suburb of Malad close to midnight.

Locals joined rescue workers in removing debris and securing survivors, who were taken to a hospital in the suburban Kandivali area.

Maharashtra minister Aslam Shaikh, who was at the site monitoring rescue operations, said the building collapsed due to rain, local media reported. 

Incidents of building collapses have become a regular occurrence in parts of India during the June-September monsoon season, as rains weaken the foundations of many poorly-built structures.

In September 2020, a four-story building collapsed in Mumbai and killed 10 people.

How long is the monsoon expected to last?

The monsoon hit Mumbai on Wednesday. Heavy rains lashed down on the commercial and entertainment hub, flooding roads, rail tracks and several neighborhoods. 

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast "heavy to very heavy" rainfall in several parts of eastern and central India over the coming week.

Union minister Piyush Goyal expresses frief over loss of lives in Mumbai building collapse

Union Railway minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday condoled the loss of lives in a residential building collapse in Mumbai's Malad area late last night in which 11 persons were killed and seven others were injured who were admiitted to hospital .

In his tweet message page Mr Goyal stated that the death of people due to the collapse of a building in Mumbai has caused a lot of grief. I express my condolences to the affected families.

May God give them the strength to bear this pain, and grant speedy recovery to the wounded, Goyal added.(UNI)