July 21st 2023.
The tragic incident of a part of a building collapsing in Bhayandar, leaving a 45-year-old cobbler dead and four others injured, has come to light. The over three-decade old ground-plus-three storied Nav-Kirti Estate located opposite the east side of Bhayandar railway station had collapsed at around 10:30 am on Thursday.
Shiv Sena legislator Pratap Sarnaik raised the issue in the state assembly and expressed his shock over the incident. He alleged that despite the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) declaring the building as dangerous and unfit for human habitation, several commercial establishments, including restaurants and ladies’ bars, continued to operate in the building, defying the eviction orders.
Sarnaik said, “Due to the greed of some people, a poor boot-polisher who was having tea near the building was buried alive. If this incident had occurred in the night, hundreds of people, including staffers and patrons visiting these bars, could have lost their lives.”
He added, “I have written to the chief minister demanding a probe and to book such greedy owners for negligence causing death. The MBMC should promptly conduct a survey and evacuate such structures with immediate effect.”
It was revealed that the MBMC had conducted a pre-monsoon survey to get the structural audit done of all the 30-year-old plus buildings in the twin-city. In which 15 buildings were tagged as dangerous and marked as C1 category, requiring immediate evacuation and demolition.
Deputy Municipal Commissioner Maruti Gaikwad said, “We had already followed the due process of law by issuing eviction notices multiple times after an elaborate exercise to identify and evacuate dangerous buildings at the ward level.” He added that they are conducting a probe into the matter and that those found guilty of negligence will be taken to task.
The devastating incident has left many in shock and grief. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the deceased and the four injured people. We hope that the guilty are brought to justice and that such tragedies can be avoided in the future.
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