Ulhasnagar : A slab collapse from the fifth floor of a building onto the fourth floor triggered the fourth-floor slab to crash onto the third floor on Tuesday morning.
Assistant municipal commissioner Ganesh Shimpi said the building was constructed in 1995.
Shimpi said the building was not on the list of dangerous buildings but, following recent building collapse incidents in the city, the administration had issued a notice directing its occupants to conduct a structural audit. Shani Baryani, a resident of the fifth foor of building, said he sensed something was wrong when he noticed vibrations on his floor. I sensed that something could go wrong, and shortly afterwards, a portion of the slab collapsed,” he said. Neighbourhood residents said most occupants were in their bedroom and several women were in their kitchen when the incident occurred.
Following the collapse, the municipal administration allowed the residents to take their important belongings before sealing the building. “I was inside my room when I felt the flooring of the hall room vibrating. Initially, I thought some work was being carried out on the floor below. However, when I went downstairs, I found that no work was in progress.
Over the years, the state government has introduced special provisions to facilitate the regularisation and redevelopment of such dangerous buildings in Ulhasnagar, including concessions in regularisation charges. However, many housing societies and residents are yet to complete the legalisation process, leaving occupants in a precarious position. Redevelopment has also remained a challenge for buildings constructed on government land, as legal and land ownership issues have complicated their redevelopment. With viable redevelopment options unavailable in some cases, residents continue to live in ageing structures despite the risks.