Mumbai: Five persons from Bantwal were among the 11 who lost their lives when a three-storied building, Krishna Nivas, located in B-Cabin area by the side of suburban Thane station here came crashing down at around 2.50 am on Tuesday August 4.

It is said that this building, located in Pagdi Chawl, was inhabited by some persons of Bantwal origin, whose forefathers for long lived behind Lord Venkataramana Temple, Bantwal, since the last four decades. The deceased have been identified as Ramachandra Panduranga Bhat (62), Meera Panduranga Bhat (58), Subraya (Subhas) Bhat (56), Ruchitha Bhat (25), and Rashmi Ramachandra Bhat (25).

This 50-year-old building, which was in a dilapidated state, posed risk to its inhabitants. Officials of Thane Municipal Corporations and ward officials had served notices on the residents of this building to vacate it. Locals said that the devastation and loss of lives happened because of the fact that the residents of the building refused to vacate the building.

So far, 11 bodies have been identified, while ten more have rescued and hospitalized. It is gathered that the condition of the seven among the injured is critical. Firemen as well as local volunteers have been engaged in rescue work. Thane police officials have registered a case and taken up investigation.