Mumbai: Residents of Crystal Tower in Parel are struggling to put pieces together. Many have resumed office and school/college, while continuing to live with their relatives, except Rajender Kapoor’s family who are still in the building.
A major fire in the building on Wednesday killed four people. The fire brigade rescued 35 people, and a few injured are still in hospital.
“We had sufficient water, and we called for drinking water and food from outside. There is no electricity, so we are using candles, torches. Since we stay on the seventh floor, we can only go out once the lift starts working. But charging our phones is a problem,” Mr. Kapoor said.
Meanwhile, residents are drawing up estimates of how much the repairs will cost. The figure might run up to ₹1 crore and the residents want the builder to foot the bill.
Fourth floor resident Anil Kale, who is staying with his relatives in Chembur, travelled to Juhu on Friday. “What can I do? I have to go to work. My son is missing classes now. We are anxious about getting the building repaired and have called for quotations. But just restoring the two lifts will cost about ₹60 lakh. It is not possible for us to bear the expense,” Mr. Kale said.
Jayshree Patil-Sadavarte, chief promoter, said the residents will not bear the cost. “Why should we pay? The builder should pay,” Ms. Patil, who has been living in their Bandra flat, said.
She said it might be difficult for people to contribute even the ₹10,000, which was decided at a meeting held on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation undertook a clean-up of the entire building as it was covered in soot and water. Residents also wanted the BMC to restore their water and electric supply.
