Mumbai: Death toll rises to 17 in Ghatkopar building collapse incident; Shiv Sena leader booked for culpable homicide

Mumbai: The death toll in the building collapse incident in suburban Ghatkopar has risen to 17 after five more bodies were pulled out from the rubble of the four-storey building here during overnight search and rescue operations.

The cause of the collapse of the ill-fated Siddhi-Sai Cooperative Housing Society is still unknown. However, locals alleged that the incident took place because of the renovation work being undertaken on the ground floor of a nursing home owned by Shiv Sena leader Sunil Shitap.

Shitap was on Tuesday night detained by the Mumbai Police and booked for culpable homicide.

Rescue operations are still going on. The Mumbai Fire Brigade, BMC rescue teams, NDRF and SDRF teams and others are at the spot to rescue the people.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday visited the site of building collapse in Ghatkopar and directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to file a report on the incident within 15 days.

"The offence has been registered. Police is investigating the matter. I have directed the BMC commissioner to investigate and submit a report within 15 days," the Maharashtra CM told reporters.

The building was not listed among those in dangerous category, as per local residents.

According to a written reply by the government in the Legislative Assembly about unsafe buildings in the metropolis, a survey by the BMC earlier this year had identified 617 such structures.