This Article is From May 13, 2015

Kilos of Gold Strewn Under Debris of Mumbai Building That Collapsed

Mumbai: In South Mumbai's Kalbadevi, 23 police personnel of the State Reserve Police Force are stationed at a ground, guarding nearly 20 kilograms of gold.

On Saturday night, after a four-storey building came crumbling down after a seven-hour-long fire - some precious lives were lost, but those who made it also have little to fall back on.

The building had several goldsmiths' workshops. Residents say most of the workers abandoned what they were doing when the fire started and rushed to escape. All that gold is now buried under a pile of rubble dumped behind the Mumbadevi temple in South Mumbai.

Priyanka Pol, a resident of Gokul Niwas whose marriage was scheduled on May 30, also lost many valuables in the fire.

"We had bought sarees and jewellery. We have lost everything, but we have been told that we can look for our valuables in two-three days after the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation clears the debris," she said.

Eight night vision CCTV cameras have been installed at the ground to monitor the premises and the municipal body and police are keeping a strict watch on people accessing the area.

"There is about 20 kilograms of gold underneath the debris. We want to make sure that no anti-social elements or thieves get near the valuables. We have made adequate arrangements," Deputy Commissioner of Police Dhananjay Kulkarni told NDTV.
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