Bodies to probe bldg collapse

In the wake of the Babu Genu building collapse at Dockyard Road, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to set up two committees under senior officials to probe such incidents. The civic body will also survey all the buildings falling under the C-2 category by expert consultants. The committee, headed by Laman Vhatkar, director (engineering services and projects) will look into the technical aspects like the cement quality and structural stability of the building. Ramesh Pawar, deputy municipal commissioner, will head another committee, which will look into the administrative lapses at the ward office and the estates department to find out why the illegal extensions were not demolished. According to the locals, the ground floor of the building was rented out to a decorator and there were illegal constructions on it.

*** Restless wait for relatives Kalyan resident Vasant Jadhav is amongst those relatives of the tenants of the Babu Genu BMC building who till late Friday night were restlessly waiting for their relatives to be rescued from the debris of the collapsed structure. “I just want to see my daughter Rajashree (maiden name Prajakta) and son-in-law Rupesh, who are trapped under the debris,” said Mr Jadhav who reached the spot along with his wife after he was informed about the incident in the morning. Rupesh and Rajashree got married last year. They live on the second floor along with Rupesh’s sister, his father Vijay Kamble (58), and mother. All five members of the family were inside when the incident took place. A resident of the building and friend of Mr Kamble, Uttam Jadhav, said. “Two days ago, only a portion of the ceiling of the bathroom collapsed on Vijay. Suspecting that a major mishap might take place, he decided to make a complaint soon in this regard, but before he could awake civic officials, the tragedy had taken place.” —VKY