In Mumbai, 18 people were killed after a wall collapsed in Malad. Similarly, six labourers died in Pune's Ambegaon in another wall collapse due to heavy rains
Mumbai: At least 18 people were killed and six others injured after a compound wall collapsed on Tuesday (July 2) due to heavy rains in Malad area in Mumbai, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) officials said.
The incident happened around 2 am when the compound wall in Pimpripada of Malad East area collapsed and people living in shanties adjacent to wall got trapped under the debris.
NDRF officials said that the 18 deceased were the people living in the slums. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has announces Rs 5 lakh ex gratia for kin of deceased, reported ANI.
Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC): 13 people died in the retaining wall collapse of few hutments built on a hill slope in Kurar Village . Fire Brigade & NDRF had rushed to the spot. pic.twitter.com/Geb3Pdnk2r
— ANI (@ANI)"Our team of National Disaster Response Force along with sniffer dog reached the site of the incident immediately after receiving the information. Besides, a team of fire brigade and local police also reached the spot and took the control of the situation," a senior NDRF official said.
He said that the police are investigating the case.
"Rescue operations are underway and more details are awaited. Over 10 injured are in nearby civic hospital in Jogeshwari and Shatabdi Hospital in Kandivali," he said.
In another similar tragedy in Pune's Ambegaon, six labourers died as the compound wall of Sinhagad College in Pune collapsed. The victims included four men and two women. The incident left at least 15 people living in huts injured. Pune fire brigade along with residents rescued nine people from the debris.
Meanwhile, authorities have declared Tuesday (July 2) as a public holiday in Mumbai as the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heavy rains.
"In the wake of the extreme heavy rainfall forecast by the IMD, the Government of Maharashtra has declared a public holiday on July 2 as a precautionary measure for Mumbai city and its citizens," a civic official said.
The Central Railway has also decided to run local trains in limited corridors due to water logging in the railway tracks.
Fifteen days ago, in a similar accident retaining wall of Alcon Stylus housing society in Kondwa in Pune collapsed, killing 15 people including four children. All 15 victims were labourers working in the construction site of SVG Kanchan Group adjacent to the accident site.
* With inputs from PTI
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