India building collapse near Mumbai kills 45

[muriel_volestrangler]

Source: BBC

At least 45 people have died, including 15 children, after a building being constructed illegally collapsed near the Indian city of Mumbai, police say.

About 70 people were injured and many are feared trapped beneath the seven-storey bloc in Thane after the incident on Thursday evening.

Building work was going on even though four floors were already occupied. A search for survivors is continuing.
...
Witnesses say the construction of the building started just six weeks ago and in that time seven floors were built rapidly and the eighth floor was under construction.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-22036751

[Blue_Tires]

1. Disaster capitalism once again collects its tax in blood...

[valerief]

2. Well said. nt

[wilt the stilt]

3. who needs regulations?

n/t

[AndyA]

4. How awful. I heard some of the construction workers had their families living there.

Wonder why no one noticed this building being built without a permit? I have no idea what the regulations (if any) are over there, but there must have been some permitting process since the article said the building was "constructed illegally."

Very sad. Regulations, inspections, and standards do serve a purpose in protecting public safety, and without them, well, things like this are more likely to happen.

[JI7]

6. lack of enforcement, more than 2000 illegal structures have come up in this area

<building collapses are common in India as builders try to cut corners by using substandard materials, and as multi-storied structures are built with inadequate supervision. The massive demand for housing around India's cities and pervasive corruption often result in builders adding unauthorized floors or putting up illegal buildings.

The neighborhood where the building collapsed was part of a belt of more than 2,000 illegal structures that had sprung up in the area in recent years, said Malvi, the municipal spokesman.

"Notices have been served several times for such illegal construction," he said. "Sometimes notices are sent 10 times for the same building."

The building that collapsed was illegally constructed on forest land, and the city informed forestry officials twice about it, Malvi said.>

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/04/05/india-building-collapse/2055719/

[etherealtruth]

5. Horrifying! n/t

[quadrature]

7. how does an illegal building get water/electric hookup?

there are no laws there.
how does anything work?

[muriel_volestrangler]

8. Lack of regulation; incompetent bureaucracy; bribery

Take your pick.