Bhayander: A portion of the external slab of the B wing of Devki Apartment, a 46-year-old building on Navghar Road in Bhayander (E), collapsed around 2.30 am on Sunday. Fire brigade personnel rescued five residents trapped on the first floor. No casualties were reported.The two-storey building, located along the main road, has 22 residential flats across two wings and 28 shops on the ground floor. The loud sound of the slab collapsing triggered panic among residents in the neighbourhood. After receiving information, fire brigade personnel and Navghar police rushed to the spot. The five residents trapped on the first floor were safely evacuated using a staircase, fire officials said. The building has been vacated and will be demolished, said fire brigade chief Prakash Borade.Devki Apartment was constructed in 1980. A structural audit conducted earlier had reportedly certified the building as not being dangerous. However, the collapse has raised questions about the reliability of the audit report and the safety of ageing buildings in the region.
