Survivors of the Mumbra building collapse who escaped with minor injuries feel let down by the state government, as they haven't received any compensation, even though many lost their homes
Survivors of the April 4 building collapse in Mumbra, who have been admitted to the Chhatrapati Shivaji Hospital in Kalwa prefer to stay put, as that would at least guarantee a roof over their heads.
The government has compensated people who lost their relatives and suffered major injuries in the incident with Rs 2 lakh and Rs 50,000 respectively. However, people who suffered minor injuries feel that nothing is being done for them even though many of them have lost their homes.
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NO RELIEF: Mirza Mehmood Baig, who had a milk business at Lucky Compound, suffered minor injuries in the collapse, but has lost everything, including his home in the incident.
Few of the victims, who spoke to MiD DAY on Wednesday afternoon said that a few officials from the collectors office in Thane had come on April 8 to hand over cheques but not everyone got the compensation.
Mirza Mehmood Baig (40), who used to run a milk business at Lucky Compound, said that he was disappointed when he did not receive the cheque. “My family and I underwent the same trauma due to the collapse. The fact that we escaped with fewer injuries is not our fault. We have lost everything and have no place to stay,” said Baig.
Gudiya (27) was rescued from the debris three hours after the incident. But her husband, Shivkumar Varma, has little clue about where to take her after she is discharged as they lost their home in the collapse
Luckily, Baig’s wife and two of his three children were not present at home when the incident took place. “Why were we not given any compensation?” he said.
Zulfikar Shaikh’s family was in the building at the time of the collapse and his three sons aged 2, 10 and 12 were injured. “When they (officials) came to hand over the cheque, only one of my sons received it while the other two sons were not given any compensation.”
His 10-year-old son Gulzar Shaikh was compensated with Rs 50,000 but is still waiting for the authorities to open a bank account for him.
Shivkumar Varma, whose wife is recuperating at the state-run hospital, has no home to take her to after she gets discharged. “Being a man I can manage, but I can’t let my wife be on the street,” he said.
Varma’s wife, Gudiya (27) was rescued from the debris three hours after the building collapsed on April 4. “We have not been given any compensation and are left to fend for our own needs.” A senior official from the collector’s office said that people with severe injuries were compensated on the basis of a doctor’s certificate.u00a0
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