MARGAO: Prajay Naik, 60, narrowly escaped a potentially fatal mishap on Wednesday morning as the balcony parapet of a fourth-floor flat in Pajifond, Margao, collapsed. Naik, who was seated in the balcony below enjoying the fresh air, had retired into his house just a few minutes prior to the incident, and missed being crushed by falling rubble.

The mishap occurred at approximately 9 am, sending a wave of fear through the occupants of the eight-flat building, Harmonia Apartment. Fortunately, no casualties were reported. Prajay Naik, along with his wife and daughter, has been residing in the apartment for several years, making it his daily morning routine to spend a few hours in the gallery.

“I had just moved inside the seating area when I suddenly heard a crash. I realised that the gallery parapet of the flat above mine had crumbled onto my gallery,” said Naik, expressing his gratitude for his fortunate escape. “I could have lost my life if I had not moved in time.”

According to residents of the building, the flat with the collapsed balcony has remained vacant for the past year. The owner, who is currently out of State, had previously conducted some repair work. This incident follows another recent occurrence, where a part of the façade of the Margao Health Centre collapsed early Saturday morning.

In response to the incident, ward councillor Sagun Naik emphasized the need for the housing society committee to assess the building’s stability. “As this is a private building, the committee of the concerned housing society should inspect and ensure the safety of the structure,” he stated.

A resident from the house next-door, speaking to reporters, revealed that the building is nearly 40 years old. “We were fortunate that no one from our house was near the building when the incident occurred,” she remarked, highlighting the dangers posed by the aging structure.