A section of an overhead bridge at Mumbai's Andheri station, connecting Andheri West with Andheri East, collapsed on the railway tracks on Tuesday morning, injuring 5 people.
The bridge-collapse is the most of recent of at least nine such incidents over the past two years, which have resulted in at least 60 people, and injured scores more, over the past two years.The reasons are primarily official apathy towards buildings that are illegal, poorly constructed, or just too old to stay upright any longer.
Here are some prominent incidents of constructions collapsing in Mumbai in the last couple of years:
2018
Wadala Wall Collapse
In June this year, the 40-foot wall of a high rise in Mumbai's Antop Hill area in Wadala collapsed. The residents of the building, Llyod Estate, blamed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation for their plight. While no lives were lost, many cars were destroyed and the residents had to evacuate the building.
The residents of Llyod Estate said they had complained about the neighbouring construction to the BMC, but their pleas were not addressed.
While a court commissioner said that it was defective shore piling at a neighbouring construction site that caused the disaster, Dosti Realty, the developer, blamed it on the rains.
2017
Ghatkopar Building Collapse
Twelve people were killed in Mumbai's Central suburb Ghatkopar in July 2017, when a four-story building collapsed during the monsoons. The building was said to be 30 years old.
A Shiv Sena leader was arrested after the collapse was linked to illegal construction work in his nursing home on the ground floor.
Jogeshwari bakery roof collapse
The roof of a 30-year-old bakery collapsed in July last year killing three labourers.
Dharavi building collapse
A three-storey building collapsed in Mumbai's Dharavi injuring 11 people inside it. No casualties were reported.
Civic officials said that the building collapsed because it was dilapidated.
Bhindi Bazaar Collapse
At least 24 people were killed when a residential building collapsed in the congested Bhindi Bazaar area in August last year.
The building was one of the 791 listed as dangerous to reside in by the BMC.
Bhiwandi Building Collapse
Four people were killed in November last year in Thane's Bhiwandi area. The 15-year-old building was said to be an illegal construction.
2016
Mankhurd Collapse
Three people were killed and 12 people were injured when a building in Mumbai's Mankhurd collapsed after a cylinder blast.
Fire officials said the explosion was caused by a leaking LPG cylinder. The incident took place in December 2016.
Bandra building collapse
Six children were killed in October 2016 when a 5-storey building collapsed in Mumbai's Bandra East. Because the area was so congested, parts of two other buildings also collapsed as a consequence.
Bhiwandi building collapse
Eight people were killed in July 2016 when a three-storey building collapsed in Bhiwandi. Reports later revealed that the building was declared dangerous and collapsed hours before it was supposed to be evacuated.