Lucky Escape for 500 as Staircase Collapses in Kalbadevi

Mumbai:  Nearly 500 people in Kalbadevi had luck on their side when a portion of a staircase of a chawl in Kalbadevi came crashing down. The staircase of Mani Ben chawl, inside Swadeshi Market, collapsed at around 5 pm yesterday.

BMC disaster management teams and fire brigade officials reached the spot within half an hour, and pulled four people from under the debris. No injuries were reported.

The busy textile market had fewer people because of the rains, and shopkeepers just managed to escape before the structure came tumbling down. Shop owners said the building is more than 100 years old.