Death toll in Malad wall collapse tragedy rises to 26

Rescuers pull out four more bodies from the debris; doctors say victims died of drowning or succumbed to severe head injuries

Succour: Volunteers from NGOs distribute food and relief material to residents of Ambedkar Nagar, who lost their belongings in the wall collapse, in Malad on Wednesday.

The death toll in the Malad wall collapse rose to 26 with rescuers pulling out four more bodies on Wednesday.

The deceased have been identified as Pappu Shah (43), Akansha Kurade (3) Jyotsna Bhatade (20) and Rukmini Gade (65). Akansha and Shah were taken to HBT Trauma Care Hospital in Jogeshwari at 10.30 a.m. and 3.30 a.m. respectively.

Doctors said Shah succumbed to a severe head injury. “His head was crushed under the debris. However, relatives were able to identify him,” said Dr. Prakash Himgire, who conducted the post-mortem at Siddharth Hospital in Goregaon.

Jyotsna and Rukmini were neighbours and their bodies were found three feet under the debris. The bodies were taken to Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Municipal General Hospital in Kandivali and doctors said the women had sustained multiple injuries and died of drowning.

Jyotsna’s uncle Sandeep Bhatade said she made imitation jewellery at home. Her mother Geeta, father Ganesh and sister Nikita were also admitted to the hospital with multiple injuries. Relatives broke the news of Jyotsna’s death to them on Wednesday evening and Geeta and Nikita, who were admitted in the female ward, were inconsolable.

Mr. Bhatade said three of his relatives had died in the wall collapse and 11 have been hospitalised with multiple injuries. He said, “We don’t know what to tell them. When they are discharged from hospital, they will have nowhere to go.”