Byculla Building Collapse: Quick Thinking Residents Evacuate Before Disaster Strikes

#### Timely Alerts Save Lives as MHADA Structure Partially Collapses

In a close call for residents, a building managed by the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) in Byculla partially collapsed around 12:30 PM on Tuesday. Quick thinking by the community ensured that all thirty families living in the structure evacuated safely, with no injuries reported.

The ground-plus-three-storey building, which included 30 residential units and 10 commercial spaces, was undergoing repairs when the incident occurred. Residents had noticed cracks developing on the exterior walls earlier that day. At approximately 10:30 AM, some vigilant neighbors alerted others, leading to a swift evacuation.

Ashraf Rizwan Khan, a resident living with an extended family of 15, expressed gratitude for the timely warnings. “All the children were at school when this happened. If not for the evacuations, 30 to 40 people could have died in the collapse,” he stated.

While residents managed to escape, many left behind their possessions, including furniture and personal belongings. Khan lamented, “We still need to have a talk with MHADA. Right now, everyone is busy finding a place to stay.”

MHADA’s Mumbai Building Repair and Reconstruction Board offered alternative accommodation to the displaced families. However, residents rejected the offer of transit homes in Powai, requesting alternatives closer to South Mumbai to facilitate their children's schooling.

Many families have temporarily relocated to the homes of friends and relatives, voicing concerns over inadequate safety measures during the building’s repairs. Advocate Zubair Azmi, a neighbor, reflected on the potential tragedy, stating, “I usually go for tea with friends right below this building. I can’t imagine what would have happened if the collapse had occurred while we were there. A transit camp needs to be arranged for the residents now.”

A fire brigade officer confirmed that a wall of a shop on the ground floor collapsed, resulting in extensive cracking throughout the building. “No one was injured as all residents had evacuated before the collapse,” he noted, highlighting the fortunate timing.

As the community comes together to address the aftermath, the focus remains on the safety and well-being of those displaced by this alarming incident.