- PHOTO: PAUL NORONHA

A woman breaks down on hearing that her sister died in the collapse.

MUMBAI: At least 11 persons were killed and over 20 injured late on Monday when an over 100-year-old building called "Sadaf Manzil" collapsed in Mumbai. Over 15 persons are feared trapped under the rubble when the four-storeyed structure collapsed.

The congested Temkar Street, where the building stood, is a lane where Dawood Ibrahim reportedly lived once. It is also the site of several buildings almost a 100 years old which are undergoing repairs.

"Sadaf Manzil" had 16 flats, four on each floor. The ground floor had a barber's shop and a garment unit belonging to the owner, Babu Qureshi. When the building crashed, its one side stood precariously . Being unsteady, that wall had to be brought down eventually. Residents staying in adjacent buildings were evacuated and were put up in Husami Hall in the same lane.

Preparations were made for the last rites of the deceased. At the entrance of Husami hall, people paid last respects to the deceased; bystanders were turned away. The police and residents were working together to ensure that the corporation workers, fire brigade could continue the rescue operation without obstruction.

After the front portion of "Sadaf Manzil," collapsed at about 1.15 a.m., some of the building's residents were rescued by neighbours before the fire brigade came. The injured were taken to the nearby J. J. Hospital, where 11 were declared dead. There were seven women among the dead, one child and three men. Four of the deceased were from the same family. Seventeen patients were admitted to hospital and 7 others were brought to the Out-patients Department and were discharged after treatment.

Deputy Chief Fire Officer B. S. Khade said, "We reached here at 1.30 a.m. Since then we have been removing the rubble and rescuing people. We have pulled 31 people out apart from the 11 dead bodies." Among the people who were rescued were two children, one pregnant woman and a few-months-old baby.

Assistant Municipal Commissioner Bhausaheb Kolekar, who was present at the venue since last night, said, "We have 145 workers and 22 officers here with 5 JCBs and 8 dumpers. We are trying our best to rescue as many people as possible."

Many who gathered at the site were inconsolable. Shaheen, a relative of the Mirza family, who now lives at Nala Sopara, said, "I grew up in this building. I knew everyone here. It happened so suddenly. It was repaired a few years back. No one thought such a thing would happen."

Residents of the area were unable to confirm if the building had been served notice. While some said the repairs were incomplete, others said it did not need any repairs. Some said notices about evacuation and repairs were sent.

Owner Babu Qureshi was not available for comment. His sister, Gulnaaz Qureshi, denied that any notice was served.

"The building was in good condition. My brother had taken it nearly 20 years back and named after his daughter Sadaf. Repairs were done just a few years back. People who were staying there were like our family. We feel as if we have lost our people. There was no problem of tenants or corporation or anything. It is just a very bad accident."

Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh visited the location in the morning with Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation Commissioner Johny Joseph.

He said the victims would be paid compensation according to rules and promised an enquiry into the mishap.

The deceased were identified as Suraiyya Mirza (48), Nizam Mirza (12), Munaf Shaikh (50), Farida Salim Mirza (38), Saina Salim Mirza (18), Noorbano Mohammed Shaikh (60), Ahamed Ibrahim Shaikh (70), Saida Saraf Shaikh (45), Zaibunnisa Sulaiman Khan (38), Anas Qureshi (19) and Rukaiya Sulaiman Khan (60).

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