Mumbai: At least 21 people were killed and over 78 injured after a wall collapsed in Mumbai's Malad area on Tuesday following heavy downpour, with authorities declaring a public holiday in the city that was crawling due to waterlogging on roads and rail tracks.
NDRF officials said that around 2 am a compound wall in Pimpripada area of Malad east collapsed and people living in shanties adjacent to the wall got trapped under the debris.
"Our team of National Disaster Response Force along with sniffer dog reached the site of the incident immediately after receiving the information. Besides, a team of fire brigade and local police also reached the spot and took control of the situation," a senior NDRF official said.
Another official said, 34 people have been admitted to the Jogeshwari Trauma Hospital after a wall collapse in Malad area of Mumbai.
Authorities have declared Tuesday as a public holiday in Mumbai as the Indian Meteorological Department has forecast heavy rains.
"In the wake of the extreme heavy rainfall forecast by the IMD, the Government of Maharashtra has declared a public holiday on July 2 as a precautionary measure for Mumbai city and its citizens," a civic official said.