Navi Mumbai: Three Dead, Two Injured in Belapur Building Collapse; Displaced Tenants Paying Rs 500 Daily for Temporary Lodging

Navi Mumbai, 2nd August 2024: Three days after a building collapse in Belapur’s Shahbaz village resulted in three fatalities and two injuries, it has been revealed that some tenants of the now-collapsed illegal structure had paid substantial security deposits, ranging from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 3 lakh, to the developer involved. The apartments, measuring between 180 and 270 sq ft, were reportedly rented under these conditions. Additionally, five displaced tenants are currently paying Rs 500 per day for temporary lodging at a paying guest house.

On Monday night, over 1,000 villagers gathered, compelling the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation to halt the evacuation orders for three nearby buildings. The flat and room owners, through their representatives, took responsibility for any potential issues and submitted a formal undertaking. Civic body ward officer Shashikant Tandel was among those present. Statements from tenants, who reported having paid large deposits to the developer, are being recorded by the NRI Coastal Police as part of their investigation. Tenant Shaheen Ansari noted, “I paid Rs 2 lakh to developer Mahesh Kumbhar for an apartment on the fourth floor.”