Mumbai:
After a day of heavy rain, a five-storey building partially collapsed in central Mumbai's Mahim area on Monday. Two people were killed in the collapse. (
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Till now, five people have been rescued from the debris. Locals say at least 20 people, mostly children and senior citizens, are feared to be trapped inside.
Among those trapped is the family of noted criminal lawyer Rizwan Merchant, who had represented actor Sanjay Dutt when he went to jail last month in connection with the 1993 blasts case.
"Sanjay Dutt's lawyer Rizwan Merchant's wife, son and mother are trapped in the building collapse," said Ashish Shelar, Mumbai BJP President. Mr Shelar also said there was construction going on below the ground floor of the building which may have weakened the structure.
The injured have been shifted to Bhabha Hospital in suburban Bandra, KEM and at the Sion Hospital.
The Altaf Manzil building, which is located near the famous Mahim dargah or shrine on Cadell Road, had a Maruti car showroom on its ground floor.
Several cars parked nearby were also crushed by debris.
In April, 74 people were killed when an illegal building collapsed in Mumbra in Thane in April.