File photo: Rescuers search for survivors in the debris of the collapsed building.
Two days after a building collapsed in Mumbai's Mazgaon area, killing 61 people, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation or BMC has finally acted. The civic body today suspended seven of its engineers in connection with the collapse.
The commissioner of the BMC also proposed an inquiry against 18 BMC officials, which include the seven suspended engineers.
Situated near the Dockyard Road in south Mumbai, the 33-year-old building was owned by the BMC and served as its staff quarters. The civic body had been under pressure to act against those who delayed repairs required by the building and allowed illegal alterations to take place which killed 61 people.
Housing around 21 families, it collapsed around 5.45 am on Friday, catching a majority of the sleeping residents unaware.
Earlier today, the Mumbai Police arrested the proprietor of a marquee decoration firm, who had allegedly carried out illegal modifications on the ground floor of the building. He has been booked for culpable homicide not amounting to murder and has been sent to police custody till Tuesday.