A day of tragedy: two buildings collapse in two megacities

In two separate incidents, a three-storey residential building and a portion of an almost century-old building collapsed in suburban Ghatkopar, Mumbai and Taltala, Kolkata respectively today.  

At least eight persons were killed and several trapped under debris in Ghatkopar. Search operations are still on to help the people feared trapped under the concrete rubble.

The 35-year-old structure that came down this morning at the Ghatkopar's Damodar Park area housed around 15 families.

The civic body's control room received a call at around 10.43 am about the accident. Fire engines, a rescue van and ambulances were rushed to the spot immediately.

Rajesh Diyora, a resident of the same building, told PTI that some commercial activity was being carried out on the ground floor and that might be the reason for the collapse of the building.

He said he was saved as he had left for his office before the building collapsed.

The building in at 10 Mirror Street under Taltala police station, Kolkata collapsed at 12.45, a police officer said.

"Luckily nobody was hurt as some inmates managed to rush outside," he said.

"We fear that a few are still stuck inside," the officer said. Two fire tenders and a huge team from the fire department along with personnel from Disaster Management units and police staff of the local police station were conducting the search, the officer said.

Mumbai is being lashed with incessant rainfall. The BMC has classified several buildings in the megapolis as dangerous. However, the collapsed building was allegedly not on the list.

Kolkata had witnessed the death of 21 persons last year when a part of the then under-construction Vivekananda flyover at Girish Park collapsed. 

(With inputs from PTI)

• Ghatkopar
• Kolkata
• Building collapse
• Mumbai