9 Dead, Several Feared Trapped in Bhiwandi Building Collapse

BHIWANDI, Jul 31: At least nine people were killed and several others injured after a portion of a four-storey building collapsed in Maharashtra’s Bhiwandi late Thursday night, with rescue teams continuing efforts to locate people feared trapped under the debris, officials said.

The building, located in the Balaji Nagar Gangaramwadi area, collapsed around 11:30 pm while repair work was underway.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) said nine bodies had been recovered from the rubble so far and rescue operations were continuing. An Assistant Commandant was also injured during the operation, the force said.

According to the Thane Municipal Corporation Disaster Management Cell, the building had been declared “dangerous” by the Bhiwandi-Nizampur Municipal Corporation. Despite being classified as unsafe, repair work was being carried out when the collapse occurred.

The four-storey structure had 48 rooms, with 12 on each floor, municipal officials said.

Residents had reportedly heard loud cracking sounds from the building around 9 pm and began evacuating families to safer locations. However, the B wing suddenly collapsed while some occupants were still attempting to leave, officials said.

A large-scale rescue operation is underway involving teams from the NDRF, Thane Disaster Response Force and local fire brigade.

Rescue teams have deployed a dog squad, four fire engines, two ambulances and heavy earth-moving machinery at the site.

Officials had earlier identified three people feared trapped under the debris as Shamji Pal, 46, Santosh Pandey alias Munna, 42, and Miraj Sheikh, 35. Several workers were also reported trapped, though their identities had not yet been confirmed. (Agencies)