Mumbai Records Decade-High Rain, Over 26 Killed in Wall Collapse
NDRF officials said that the deceased in Malad were all people living in adjacent slums.
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At least 26 people were killed and several injured after a wall collapsed early on Tuesday, 2 July, in Mumbai's Malad region due to the highest rainfall the region has received in a day in over decade.
In a separate incident of wall collapse in Thane’s Kalyan, near Mumbai, at least three people were killed.
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According to National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) officials, 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.
"Our team of NDRF 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.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), meanwhile, has set up a team of experts to investigate the Malad incident, PTI reported.
The team has been asked to submit a report within 15 days, an official said on Thursday.
According to the official, a notice has also been issued to the contractor, who had constructed the wall.
Kalyan Wall Collapse Kills Three
In a separate incident, three people died while one was injured after a wall of the National Urdu School collapsed at around 12:30 am on Tuesday in Kalyan, due to heavy rainfall in the area.
According to an NDTV report, those killed in the Kalyan wall collapse incident were identified as Mohammad Chand (26), Hussain Mohammad Chand (3) and Shobha Kachru Kamble (60).
Meanwhile, authorities have declared Tuesday, 2 July, a public holiday in Mumbai as the Indian Meteorological Department predicts heavy rains ovet the next two days.
"In the wake of the extreme heavy rainfall forecast by the IMD, the Government of Maharashtra has declared a public holiday on 2 July 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 on the railway tracks.
Fadnavis Takes Stock of Situation
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis visited the BMC Disaster Management control room and took stock of the situation with civic officials.
Fadnavis, alongwith BMC and Mumbai Police officials, reviewed issues including railway traffic, road traffic movement and also discussed areas where more focus and assistance was required. “As a precautionary measure and as per IMD advisory on heavy rains, we declared Tuesday a holiday,” Fadnavis said. “We need to remain alert for the next two days,” he added.
(With inputs from PTI, ANI and NDTV)
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