Thane building collapse: Civic official arrested

Thane: With the arrest of a Deputy Municipal Commissioner of Thane Municipal Corporation on Wednesday night, the number of arrests in connection with the building collapse in Mumbra area has gone up to 22. DMC Srikant Sarmokdam, whose name was found in the diary of the builder (already arrested), was taken into custody, the police said.

The police had deferred arresting him because of a death in his family. Sarmokdam was due to retire soon, police added. Seventy four people died when a seven-story unauthorised building in Shil-Phata area near Mumbra in the district collapsed earlier this month.

The builders had allegedly bribed the corporation officials to turn a blind eye to the construction.