Building Collapse Tragedy in Bhiwandi: Caretaker Arrested, Hunt On for Builder’s Partner
A Desperate Attempt to Save a Failing Structure
In a shocking turn of events, a 13-year-old building in Bhiwandi, the Kohinoor Apartment’s B-wing, partially collapsed on July 30 evening, claiming the lives of 10 people. The building, which had been served a notice declaring it a danger to inhabitants, was undergoing repair work when the tragedy struck.
Caretaker Arrested, but Questions Remain
Police have arrested Amritlal Nishad, the 49-year-old caretaker of the building, for allegedly initiating repair work without the necessary civic permission. Nishad, who is also a resident of the building, was produced before a holiday court and remanded in police custody till August 5. According to investigators, Nishad had collected money from flat owners on the instructions of builder Bilal Khan to undertake the repairs.
A Complex Web of Allegations
Senior Inspector Vikram Mohite of Bhoiwada police station revealed that the investigation has revealed a complex web of allegations. Khan, who is currently abroad, allegedly instructed Nishad to arrange repairs after the Bhiwandi-Nizampur City Municipal Corporation (BNCMC) declared the building a danger. Nishad then collected between Rs 5,000 and Rs 10,000 from each flat owner and engaged contractor Ashok Paswan to undertake the repairs without obtaining permission from the civic body.
The Mysterious Case of Contractor Paswan
Paswan, who was also involved in the construction of the building with Khan as his partner, died in the collapse. Police are now on the hunt for Danish, another person allegedly involved in the construction of the building with Khan. Further action against Khan will be taken once he returns to India.
Investigations Uncover Poor Construction Quality
According to investigators, the 13-year-old Kohinoor Apartment consists of two wings with 48 flats and four shops in each wing. The B-wing, which had been served a notice declaring it a danger, partially collapsed while repair work was underway. Police suspect that poor construction quality may have contributed to the tragedy. The building’s unusual deterioration in just 13 years has raised questions over the quality of material used during construction and whether structural norms for a load-bearing building were followed.
Residents Resist Demolition, Demand Rehabilitation
Meanwhile, civic authorities faced stiff resistance when they attempted to demolish the A-wing of the building after issuing evacuation notices. Residents, who have been living outside their homes since the collapse, prevented the demolition, demanding rehabilitation before any action is taken. They argued that they should be allowed to remove their belongings and sought a detailed panchnama of every flat to safeguard their ownership rights during the future redevelopment.
A Temporary Reprieve for Residents
BNCMC has temporarily deferred the demolition as discussions with residents continue. Residents have been living outside their homes since the collapse and are demanding temporary accommodation, arguing that many families had invested their life’s savings to buy homes in the building and could not afford to lose both their property and shelter overnight.
The Bhiwandi Building Collapse: A Tragic Reminder of the Need for Accountability
The Bhiwandi building collapse is a tragic reminder of the need for accountability in the construction industry. As investigations continue, it is clear that the collapse was not just a natural disaster, but a preventable tragedy that could have been avoided with proper planning, execution, and oversight. The arrest of the caretaker and the hunt for the builder’s partner are a step in the right direction, but much more needs to be done to ensure that such tragedies do not occur in the future.