The collapse comes nine days after a five-story building Tarique Gardens in Mahad, Raigad District, collapsed on August 24, killing 16 people and wounding nine. This building was built seven years ago.
The 25-year-old building at Majithia Park, Achole Road, Nalasopara (east) was remodeled in 2009. Two years ago, the building developed large cracks.
The Vasai Virar Municipal Corporation (VVMC) had declared the structure dangerous and evacuation notices were issued to all 20 apartment owners. While 15 occupants moved in, five families, comprising around 22 people, including children and the elderly, stayed in the building.
The families left behind claimed they could not pay their rent outside and were fighting a legal battle with the builder identified as Abhay Naik.
The residents alleged that the builder had done inferior and illegal work. Residents claimed the building was legal when it went to remodel.
On Tuesday night, when residents had an informal meeting in the building complex, they noticed a pile of mud near the door. Feeling that the structure was weakening even further, they decided to approach the civic body on Wednesday.
Around 11pm, they heard some sounds of debris falling. The families went out and found that parts of the cracked structure had given way.
They waited outside and discussed their next plan. Around 1 a.m., a family even returned to their fourth-floor apartment to collect some cash and lock their room. The Seema couple and Dayanand Deorukhkar collected some cash and as soon as they were out the door, the structure collapsed around 1.30am.
VVMC fire department personnel arrived at the scene and the search operation has begun. However, families have told firefighters that no one is trapped within the rubble.
The power supply in the area was hit because the structure knocked down some power poles.
The families said that all their belongings and valuables were buried under the structure.
A team of around 20 firefighters is on the scene. Work is underway to clean up the rubble.
The sound of the crash woke up residents of neighboring buildings. The area has been cordoned off.
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