Cracks & rain in 20-year-old structure led to collapse in Indore: Eyewitnesses

Indore: The three-storied building collapsed with a bang leading to chaos and commotion. Luckily for most residents they were outside when the building collapse happened. At least ten individuals, including Altaf Ansari, 28, his wife Sabista Ansari, 28, Rafa Uddin, 60, Yasira, three, and Nabi Ahmed, seven, were rescued and sent to the hospital. The identities of five others remained to be established, MGM Medical College Dean Dr Arvind Ghanghoriya said.Eyewitnesses stated that cracks had developed in the 20-year-old building and rain further weakened the structure, leading to the incident. Rescue and relief operations are ongoing at the site of the building collapse in Indore.Qutubbudin Shakruwala, 71, a member of the Bohra community residing opposite the collapsed building, told TOI that three families, including children, were staying in the building. The ground floor housed shops."I was in the kitchen, gathering my plate of food when I heard the commotion. I rushed out to see the building collapse. It is a building built like a train compartment," he said."We have been infested with rats. Rats have dug tunnels under and around our buildings. I got the treatment done this year," he added. People in the vicinity were the first to react. Despite power being cut off in the area, they pulled out Altaf and Yasira.Officials have yet to comment on the predicament faced by neighbours.