Anurag Kumar
A day after the collapse of the ground-plus-three commercial-residential building Wardhaman Compound in Bhiwandi, three more corpses were recovered from the rubble, bringing the total number of fatalities to six. According to MMRDA officials, the building that collapsed was not permitted.
Indrapal Patil, the owner of the building, has been apprehended, according to police officials. The National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) and the Thane Disaster Relief Force (TDRF) continued their rescue operations throughout the night. Sunil Pisal, 26, was rescued after 20 hours, around 8 a.m., but three others were pulled out deceased. They were identified as 35-year-old Sudhakar Gavai, 22-year-old Pravin Pramod Chaudhary, and 40-year-old Triveni Prasad Yadav.
The debris was being cleared by four NDRF teams, two TDRF teams, Bhiwandi fire brigade personnel, and a trained detection dog team. According to NDRF officials, among other instruments, four JCBs, gas cutters, and a victim tracing camera were utilized during the rescue operation.
Deepak Pandey, commander of the NDRF headquarters in Pune, stated, “We have four squads, three of which are from Mumbai. One team consists 20 to 25 NDRF personnel. We are divided into sections. A “pancake collapse” occurs when a building collapses vertically in a matter of seconds, making it difficult for those inside to escape. The odds of survival after twenty-four hours are dismal. However, because the injured told us that there were more people within the debris, the rescue teams are still seeking for additional victims. Our sniffer canines Pitter, Tiger, and Sultan have played a crucial role in locating the entrapped individuals.
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MRK Pvt. Ltd.’s ground-plus-first-floor warehouses contained approximately 50 to 60 tonnes of appetizing goods, according to information provided by Pandey.
Sudhakar Gavai, a 35-year-old driver who also served as president of the Diva Yuva faction of the RPI (Deepak Nikalje faction), was hauled out dead around 10:30 on Sunday morning. His family members initially did not recognize him. Later, they relocated to the IGM hospital, where his Aadhar card and driver’s license were discovered, confirming his identity.
Pravin Pramod Choudhary, a 32-year-old porter for MRK Pvt Ltd, was extricated from the detritus at 3.30 p.m. He labored on the building’s first floor. Likewise, he was transported to the IGM Hospital in Bhiwandi.
Chaudhry’s relative Rajendra Prasad told HT that Chaudhry is from the UP district of Basti. He had been employed by the company for the previous five years. Pravin and Bipin Chaudhry were both employed by the same corporation. However, Bipin had traveled to the village one month prior. “Bipin has now departed from the village and will arrive in Bhiwandi tomorrow.” Prasad stated, “We will transport Pravin’s body to UP by ambulance for the final rites.”
Triveni Prasad Yadav, age forty, was the company’s food delivery employee for the previous twelve years. In 2022, MRK Pvt Ltd began operations at the Vardhman Compound in Bhiwandi. One of Triveni’s roommates told HT that he was ill and wished to rest the day before the incident, but a manager called him and told him to report to work. His decision to labor on a Saturday cost him his life.
In the meantime, Adhik Patil, Tahsildar of Bhiwandi, stated, “The owner has illegally constructed the structure. At first glance, he lacks the necessary authorization from the MMRDA department.”
Senior police inspector Madan Ballal of the Narpoli police station stated, “We have arrested Indrapal Patil and booked him under sections 304(II) (Criminal homicide not amounting to murder), 337 (Causing injury by act endangering life or personal safety), 338 (causing grievous injury by act endangering human life), 427 (Mischief causing damage) 34 of the Indian Penal Code. On Monday, the accused will be brought before the court. Investigations are ongoing.”
A senior MMRDA official stated, “The MMRDA has not issued any permits for this building, and neither authority has received a request for the building’s regularisation.” The MMRDA had sent a letter to the Thane collector in December 2013 regarding the responsibilities of local governments in regards to actions on dilapidated structures.
