Mumbai: In a tragic incident, at least 11 people including 8 children died, and seven were injured when a residential structure collapsed in Mumbai's Malad area late on Wednesday night, a civic official said.
Three of the deceased, aged 8, 9 and 13, were identified so far, while the eight other victims were yet to be identified, a BMC official told PTI. Among the seven injured, the condition of one of them is critical.
According to the BMC disaster management cell, the incident was reported around 11.10 pm from the New Collector compound slum on Abdul Hamid Road in Malvani gate no 8 areas.
A search and rescue operation is underway as more people are feared trapped under the debris of the collapsed building. Till now, 18 people have been rescued. Locals are also helping in the rescue operation.
According to Vishal Thakur, DCP Zone 11, Mumbai, as many as 18 people including women and children have been rescued. They were shifted to a nearby hospital. Thakur also said that there is a possibility of more people stuck under the debris and added that teams are present to rescue people.
The civic body also said that residents from three nearby buildings were evacuated as structures were in dilapidated condition.
Dilip Sawant, Additional CP told ANI that police would be carrying out a proper investigation and would take further action.
Maharashtra Minister Aslam Shaikh who reached the incident site stated that the buildings have collapsed due to rain.
Mumbai has been witnessing heavy rainfall for the past two days. On Wednesday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an 'Orange' alert in the Mumbai, Palghar, and Thane districts of Maharashtra for the next four days.
Smaller incidents such as wall collapses have been reported from other parts of the city, but there have been no reports of injuries so far. Weather experts say heavy rains will continue to lash the city over the next few days and low-lying areas will be at risk of flooding.