At least 71 people are reported dead so far in the building collapse in Thane and the death toll may rise further as many are still trapped under the debris. More than 40 hours have been passed; the rescue operation is still on.
The Thane Deputy Municipal Commissioner and senior police inspector have been suspended have been suspended after Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan visited the collapse site. The government has announced Rs 2 lakh compensation for the families of the dead and Rs 50,000 each to those seriously injured in the incident.
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The Municipal authorities said that the building was unauthorised and constructed on forest land. Two notices were sent to the building earlier. Many a time, the forest department had been requested to take action against the building but in vain.
The municipal authorities had issued notices to 250 illegal buildings in that area. They had also tried to demolish those, but it was not easy as the area was congested and equipments used for removal of the building were unusable there.
However, the authorities are investigating why the tragedy occurred and who were responsible. The injured have been admitted to various hospitals including Thane Civil, CSM Civic hospital at Kalwa, Kalsekar hospital in Kalwa. The victims in critical condition have been shifted to Sion and JJ Hospital. Most of the victims were children and women.