The torrential downpour which took place in Mumbai on the night of 22^nd September, 2020, caused a minor landslide at Khareghat Parsi Colony, at Pedder Road in South Mumbai. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation(BMC) D ward Assistant Municipal Commissioner (AMC) Prashant Gaikwad confirmed with the Free Press Journal that, as a precautionary measure they had asked the old building residents of the Khareghat Parsi Colony to vacate their houses for the time being.

“The building retaining wall comprising around 10 feet, collapsed, due to which the mud from the hill is slipping. The flats on the ground floor of this building were largely affected. Also, since the said building is old and constructed in the 1920’s the residents have been alerted,” he said.

The Khareghat Parsi Colony is part of the same hillock, a portion of which collapsed on August 6, 2020, affecting traffic the traffic along Pedder Road. A resident informed that the uprooted trees or debris had not been cleared till date from the Ridge Road (BG Kher Road) which connects Hanging Gardens to Kemps Corner, post the incident that had caused the landslide.

Gaikwad said, “We haven’t touched the affected area as told by IIT Bombay to us. Also clearing of trees will further cause more destruction. This area is surrounded with residential buildings and having huge human density.”

He further stated that the work could commence only after the rains are over and they are waiting for the monsoons to end. While reports from IIT Bombay are soon expected, the hill area has been surveyed via drone survey, LIDAR survey, and geotechnical testing of soil has already been done.

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(Courtesy Free Press Journal)