VASCO
A portion of a slab at a dilapidated building came crashing down on a busy footpath in Vasco on Friday afternoon, in the second incident of its kind in the port town within barely 15 days.
Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident since the footpath is opposite the Vasco Market with several restaurants, wine shops, textile stores and other establishments in the area.
An eyewitness Adil Shaikh, who is a restaurateur, said he had a lot of customers in his restaurant when the incident occurred.
"I was at the counter of my restaurant when I heard a loud sound and I rushed out immediately only to find out that a portion of the slab of our building had collapsed and pieces of concrete were all over the footpath.”
“Fortunately, it was in the afternoon and there were not many people on the footpath which is usually very busy in the mornings and evenings. We appeal to the Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) to act on dilapidated buildings," said Shaikh.
A similar incident was reported in Vasco around 15 days ago, when another portion of the slab had fallen on a footpath, which houses a pharmacy and a hospital on the first floor of another building.
Many residents have been repeatedly requesting authorities to act on dilapidated buildings in Masco and blamed the MMC for failing to act in the matter.
MMC Councillor Vinod Kinlekar has demanded urgent action on dilapidated buildings before the monsoons.
"It is said that there are repeated incidents of portions of slabs collapsing on footpaths in Vasco but with God's blessing, none of these incidents have led to any injury or death.”
“I request the MMC chairperson and chief officer to immediately act on these dilapidated buildings in Vasco on top priority before monsoons.”
“Even the police department had written to the MMC to act on a dilapidated building right outside the Vasco police station but nothing has been done till date.”
“We have so many buildings which are dilapidated and while some are abandoned, some have residents living in those buildings. These buildings are neither safe for residents nor the pedestrians on the footpath," said Kinlekar.
