The boards simply say that Mulphul building, situated at plot no 92, S V Road, Khar west, is in danger, and that visitors should enter at their own risk. The building houses the post office, a Desai Blood Bank, three shops and five families. While the tenants occupy the ground, first and second floors, the Chaturvedi family stays on the third floor. And although the board's proclamation may jolt first time visitors, for Chaturvedi and his nine tenants, it's a reality they have been living for a while.

Neither Chaturvedi nor any of the tenants seem to remember when Mulphul building was last repaired. The structure, plaster peeled off, steel columns jutting out, is wrapped tight inlitigation, with both Chaturvedi and his tenants having dragged the other to court over the last 12 years on the issue of tenancy. The tenants pay Chaturvedi a measly Rs 100 as rent, an amount which hardly suffices for maintenance.

``The building has weakened to the worst possible extent and will give in any moment. One of the balconies on the third floor collapsed on March 28 this year, taking my daughter Shashi, who was standing there, down with it.

Her legs were fractured and she is still unable to walk properly,'' claimed Chaturvedi. He then hired a private firm, Bapuji Consultants, to assess the building's structural stability. Civil engineers inspected the building and recently submitted a report, which declared: ``There is major damage and distress to the structure over the years. The structural system is defective... This has led to ongoing rotational stresses creating imbalance in the framing system.

Concealed plumbing and electrification have undergone major corrosion. This has created cracksin the walls. Connecting beams between columns have sagged due to loss in steel and concrete strength. It is recommended that structural repairs be undertaken on priority and the work be executed by highly technically experienced contractors.''

Chaturvedi says he has complained to the H/west ward office as well as the Khar police station through an advocate several times in the last eight years, but to no response. ``I am fed up of the court cases as hardly any trial has taken place over the last 12 years. None of the tenants listen to me. My family members have also shifted to relatives' places out of fear. I have done my duty by putting up the boards,'' declared Chaturvedi.

If the boards cause the visitors to the post office - estimated at around 1,000 every day - to sent up silent prayers for their safety, postmaster A S Raghashetty refuses to accept that the building is under any kind of threat.

``The building needs to be repaired, which the owner does not want to do. He wants us to vacate andredevelop the property. He has not been accepting rent for last several months as a case is pending in court. But our customers get scared on reading the boards and pester us with several questions. The owner better repair the building at the earliest,'' he said.

Added Dinh Bijoy, another occupant of the building, ``The building will not collapse. The landlord has been extremely careless and has not taken any precautions to protect the structure. Repairs need to be done immediately.''

Ward officer Vikram Pawar was not available for comment throughout Friday afternoon. Sub-engineer D B Kalyankar of the buildings department of the ward office told Express Newsline that it was not binding on the BMC to assess structural stability of a building, and the owner could get it done from private consultants. ``If a complaint has been filed, action will be taken according to rules. It depends on the landlord and the tenants to resolve the matter among themselves and get the building repaired,'' informed Kalyankar.