Mumbai, June 10: t least four people died and seven others were injured when in a five-storey building collapsed in central Mumbai’s Mahim area on Monday. Locals say at least seven to eight people, mostly children and senior citizens, are feared trapped under the debris.
Several reports say among those trapped is the family of noted criminal lawyer Rizwan Merchant, who had represented actor Sanjay Dutt in court when he surrendered last month in connection with a 1993 Mumbai blasts case.
"Sanjay Dutt’s lawyer Rizwan Merchant’s wife, son and mother are trapped in the building collapse," said Ashish Shelar, Mumbai BJP President. Mr Shelar also said there was construction going on below the ground floor of the building which may have weakened the structure.
The building collapsed a day after heavy rain lashed the city. The injured have been shifted to Bhabha Hospital in suburban Bandra, KEM and at the Sion Hospital.
The Altaf Manzil building, which is located near the famous Mahim dargah or shrine on Cadell Road, had a Maruti car showroom on its ground floor.
Several cars parked nearby were also crushed by debris.
In April, 74 people were killed when an illegal building collapsed in Mumbra in Thane.