'Felt Like An Earthquake Has Struck': Survivors Recall Mumbai Building Collapse

A survivor said, initially it felt like an earthquake has struck. Cab driver, Satish Kshetre said he used ropes made of sarees and rescued 10 people.

Cab driver Satish Kshetre was relaxing with his guests in his room in a Naik Nagar Society building in suburban Kurla when he suddenly felt like an earthquake has struck and as soon as he realised that the neighbouring wing of his building has crumbled, the first thought that came to his mind was to rescue his family members and guests.

As the common staircase of the east and west sides of the affected D wing also collapsed, Mr Kshetre, a resident of the third floor of the west side, prepared a rope using sarees and rescued all the ten people, including his family members and some guests visiting him, with the help of local people.

At least 14 people were killed and 13 others injured after the four-storey building collapsed around Monday midnight, civic officials said on Tuesday.

All four floors located on the east portion of the D building in the Naik Nagar Coop Housing Society were sandwiched in the crash. On the west side, the ground and the first floors were affected while the remaining three floors remained intact. "For a moment I thought we will not survive but by the grace of God, we are alive," Mr Kshetre told PTI.