National
Mumbai building crash kills 22, PM voices grief (Roundup)
Mumbai, Aug 31 (IANS) In the worst building crash this monsoon, at least 22 persons were killed and another 34 injured when a 117-year-old, six-storey building collapsed near the J.J. Hospital here on Thursday morning, an official said.
Another dozen plus people were still feared trapped under the debris as hectic efforts continued to save them till late this evening, the official said, adding the death toll may increase.
So far, 34 injured persons were rescued from the heap of rubble of the collapsed residential structure. The cause of the crash is being probed.
The Huseini Building on Maulana Shaukat Ali Road in the congested Bhendi Bazar in south Mumbai had been red-flagged as “dangerous” six years ago. It crashed suddenly with a roar at 8.25 a.m, catching all its occupants unaware.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his grief.
“Collapse of a building in Mumbai is saddening. My condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and prayers with the injured,” Modi tweeted.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis visited the crash site and ordered a probe into the disaster.
Rehabilitation Minister Chandrakant Patil announced a compensation of Rs 500,000 to the kin of the deceased and free treatment to the injured.
Opposition leader Dhananjay Munde blamed MHADA for not ensuring the redevelopment of the building though it was entrusted to a private group, Saifee Burhani Upliftment Trust (SBUT).
“Redevelopment projects languish or take 25 years to complete, the people are not ready to vacate and live elsewhere for so long. Instead of focusing on dream projects, the authorities should redevelop dilapidated buildings within a specified time-frame and concentrate on saving human lives,” Munde said.
Among the injured were five firemen and an NDRF jawan.
A woman said the building also housed a nursery-cum-playgroup with around two dozen children. It was scheduled to open at 10 a.m., two hours after the building collapsed.
A BMC bulletin detailed the two-wing structure comprising an uninhabited godown with a sweetmeat shop on the ground floor and 10 residential tenements on the remaining upper floors, which have completely collapsed.
“The dangerous building was served evacuation notice in 2011 and the occupants ordered to vacate to make way for the redevelopment project, but they failed to heed the warnings,” said a BMC official.
The NDRF, state disaster management, fire brigade personnel, dog squads and electronic gadgetry were deployed to trace those buried under the rubble.
As the building is situated in a heavily congested locality of south Mumbai, rescue teams and their large vehicles faced a tough time approaching it.
In the meantime, local residents, mainly Dawoodi Bohra community members, initiated their own rescue efforts, moving the rubble with their hands to help the victims.
This is the first major building collapse after Tuesday’s deluge in Mumbai and the second in five days after the Chandivali Crystal Business Park crash of August 26 claimed six lives.
Earlier, on July 25, 17 persons were killed when the Sai Darshan building crashed in Ghatkopar.
–IANS
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Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.
The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.
Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.
Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.
For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.
During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.
Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.
Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .
Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.
In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.
In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.
He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.
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