The NDRF and the fire brigade carry out a rescue operation after the collapse of a three-story building in Bhiwandi, Thane district, on Monday, September 21, 2020. | Photo credit: PTI
Key points
- The death toll in the Bhiwandi building collapse has risen to 41, the NDRF remains in place as the rescue operation continues.
- Two civic officials in connection with the collapse and a case has been registered against the owner of the building
Bhiwandi, Maharashtra: The death toll in the Bhiwandi building collapse in Maharashtra has risen to 41, the National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) reported on Thursday. The incident took place on September 21 and the rescue operation is still continuing.
According to the ANI news agency, up to 25 people have been rescued so far. The three-story building collapsed around 3:40 a.m. Monday in the Patel compound area in the Thane district. Shortly after the incident, the NDRF, firefighters and police teams arrived at the scene and carried out rescue operations.
On Wednesday, police had stated that the death toll in the Bhiwandi building collapse rose to 39, with 14 more bodies being recovered overnight. However, two more bodies were recovered earlier today, bringing the death toll to 41.
The dead include 18 children in the age group two to 15, including three young children, an official said. So far, twenty-five people have been pulled from the rubble alive and are being treated at hospitals in Bhiwandi and Thane, he said. Furthermore, the search operation continued throughout the night despite heavy rains.
President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have lamented the loss of life in the incident.
On Twitter, Prime Minister Modi said on Monday that “Saddened by the collapse of the building in Bhiwandi, Maharashtra. Condolences to the grieving families. Praying for a speedy recovery of the injured. Rescue operations are underway and providing all possible assistance to those affected. “
Two suspended civic officials
In taking action on the incident, the authorities suspended two civic officials in connection with the collapse and a case was registered against the owner of the building. The building, which wasn’t even on the Municipal Corporation’s list of ramshackle structures, had 40 stories and about 150 people lived.
The building collapsed while residents slept, after which NDRF teams and Thane Disaster Response Force (TDRF) personnel arrived at the scene and began the rescue and relief operation that is still underway, he said. An official.