Mankhurd Building Collapse: 6 Dead, Mostly Children; Mumbai Monsoon Toll Reaches 10
Late on Sunday, a four-storeyed shanty collapsed onto another at Janata Nagar in Mumbai's Mankhurd, resulting in the deaths of six people, including five children. The incident occurred at around 8.30 pm.
The victims were identified as Aliya (7), Muskan (14), Nihal (6), Nabiya (2), Munaf (7), and Soni (32). While Munaf was taken to Rajawadi hospital in Ghatkopar, the other five were declared dead at Shatabdi hospital.
A passerby, Rehan Ali (24), was trapped in the debris and suffered grievous injuries. Hospital staff said his condition is now stable.
The fire department and a team from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) conducted rescue operations, which concluded around 3.20 am. Officials confirmed that no other persons were trapped.
Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde stated that the collapsed shanty was "completely illegal" and used as a godown. "The structure had three storeys built one upon another and was completely illegal. It functioned as a godown, and was completely stacked with goods. When the building collapsed, the goods came crashing on the neighbouring building where a woman, her children and some kids from the neighbourhood were staying," she said. According to sources, the shanties were on government land and residents had been issued multiple notices to vacate.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed grief and announced an ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh each for the families of the deceased.
These deaths bring Mumbai's monsoon-related death toll to 10 in less than a week. Earlier incidents included a 63-year-old man killed by a falling tree branch in Kurla, an 18-year-old boy in Aarey, an 11-year-old boy in a school bus accident in Chembur, and a 55-year-old man who fell into an open manhole in Sakinaka.
Maharashtra State Disaster Management Minister Girish Mahajan appealed to citizens to remain indoors as heavy rain and strong winds (70–90 kmph) lash Mumbai. He urged private offices to provide work-from-home options. Chief Minister Fadnavis will hold a meeting at 12 pm to review the situation.
