Significance of Safe Dwelling Awareness and Rapid Community Response

1. Significance of Safe Dwelling Awareness and Rapid Community Response

2. National Building Code (NBC) • The National Building Code (NBC) is a national instrument that will guide the regulations for construction activity in the country. • The code encompasses all the aspects vital for safe and orderly building development. • The building that does not satisfy the requirements put forward by the NBC or violates, it is bound to suffer penalty, cancellation of sanction or demolition.

3. Salient features in NBC • Foundation & Structural Design: All materials and workmanship shall be of good quality conforming generally to accepted standards of Bureau of Indian Standard specification & codes as included in NBC of India. • National Building Code regulates building construction & building use in order to protect the health, safety & welfare of the occupant. • Every person who intends to erect, re-erect or make alternation in any place in a building or demolish any building shall give notice in writing to the concerned Authority of his intention in the prescribed form and such notice shall be accompanied by plans and statements in sufficient copies.

4. No Objection Certificate (NOC) from Fire Service, Pollution Control Board, Electrical safety department, Water Supply and Sewage Department and other concerned department. • No land shall be used as a site for the construction of building if the Competent Authority considers that the site is unsanitary or that it is dangerous to construct a building on it. • Building should be safe for occupant and it is important to inspect when your site is getting marked for dimensions. Inspect construction after every two feet progress.

5. The building will be inspected by concern authorities and you will get completion certificate for your apartment or building. • Issuing of Completion Certificate will ensure that the owner has constructed the building as per approved plan. • Without the occupancy certificate, it is difficult to get the electricity, water and sanitary connection.

6. Civil Defence Response in Building Collapse in Mumbra, Thane • On 4th April, 2013 at 06.30 pm, seven storey residential building collapsed at lucky compound. • First small portion of building fell down, then entire building tilted and completely collapsed. • the worst building collapse in the area • 72 people died, including 18 children, 23 women, and 33 men, while more than 100 people survived "The building collapsed like a pack of cards within three to four seconds."

7. First responder • EOC established at DM cell, Collector Office, Thane • EOC contacted Deputy Controller, CD and briefed about incident at 07.00 pm • Deputy Controller contacted all Assistant Deputy Controllers of the Thane Unit. • Assistant Deputy Controllers in turn alerted all Wardens of their areas. • Wardens with CD teams arrived on the incident site to join hands with fire brigade in their SAR efforts.

8. 125 CD volunteers and honorary staff who are trained in basic rescue and first aid formed; • 5-rescue teams • 3- first aid teams • 8- evacuation teams • Remaining members tasked as crowd control teams • Rescue teams with the help of heavy machinery and available equipments tried to rescue the victims.

9. Rescue teams with the help of heavy machinery and available equipments tried to rescue the victims • Rescue teams succeeded in rescuing 9 casualties and 3 dead bodies • Owing to concrete construction, SAR operation very difficult • CD officers from Dombivali division brought hydraulic cutters which found to of great use

10. Rescue Operation • NDRF teams arrived at around 10.30 pm. • 4 rescue teams led by Divisional warden worked with NDRF and Fire Brigade • First aid rendered and transported by stretcher to ambulance by CD

11. Ladies CD Volunteers • Rescue teams were also comprises of lady volunteers • Except CD, neither NDRF nor Fire Brigade had Lady component in their composition • Lady volunteers took active part in resuing female and children from the wrekage • Victims were given first aid before transporting them to the ambulance • Lady volunteers also took an initiative to console the victims relatives during crowd control

12. Crowd Control by CD • As situation became very emotional and tense, proper control were envisaged • Two tier crowd control was established • Outer perimeter manned by police to restrict unauthorized entry • Inner perimeter manned by CD volunteers by making human chain under the command of Divisional Warden, Kalyan (E) • Divisional Warden, Belapur used Dictaphone to disseminate instructions to Bystanders

13. Welfare service • Entire SAR operation was continued without break • Necessary arrangement of food/water etc made by the Thane collectorate for response teams • Services were provided by CD volunteers by properly distribution and guidance

14. VVIP Visit • On 5th April, 2013 the Chief Minister and Home Minister of Maharashtra visited the site and appreciated the good work done by CD, NDRF and Fire Brigade • After ensuring that there is no victims left under the debris, the Joint CP, Thane announced the closure of SAR operation at 12.25 pm on 6th April, 2013

15. Appreciation • Collector, Thane “ immediate and effective response by the CD, Thane unit made a difference where it counted most in saving lives and relieving pain of those directly affected” • Commandant, NDRF “ high appreciation for invaluable help and excellent support of CD unit for the successful search and rescue operation”

16. Total 11 paid staff and 222 CD volunteers took active part during three days SAR operation

17. Questions raised • Case of illegal construction activities • Area full of marshland • The collapsed seven-storey building in Lucky Compound was built in just two months • Use inferior quality of construction material • No quality workmanship • No inspection by authority