Bhiwandi, Maharashtra: A late night building collapse in Maharashtra’s Bhiwandi claimed the lives of at least seven people and left several others feared trapped beneath the debris, prompting an intensive rescue mission by multiple emergency agencies.
The incident occurred at around 11:30 pm on Thursday when a section of the four-storey Kohinoor Building in Balaji Nagar suddenly gave way. Officials said rescue workers have been searching through the rubble since the collapse, with hopes of locating survivors.
Resident Deputy Collector Sandeep Mane confirmed the fatalities, stating that most of the victims are yet to be identified. The bodies have been shifted to a government hospital for postmortem examinations.
Rescue personnel also recovered an injured minor from the debris. The child was immediately taken to a nearby hospital and is undergoing treatment.
Authorities estimate that six to seven people may still be trapped under the collapsed structure. Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Thane Disaster Response Force, local fire services and municipal authorities are working round the clock to clear the debris and locate those missing.
According to civic officials, the residential building contained 48 rooms spread across four floors. The structure had previously been classified as unsafe by the municipal administration, and repair work was reportedly underway before the incident.
Residents in the neighbourhood said unusual cracking noises were heard from the building around 9 pm, raising concerns about its stability. Alarmed locals rushed to alert occupants, helping several families evacuate before disaster struck.
Officials said that while many residents managed to leave the premises in time, some were still exiting when the building’s ‘B’ wing suddenly collapsed, trapping several people inside.
The rescue operation remains in full swing with the deployment of sniffer dogs, four fire engines, ambulances and heavy earth-moving equipment. Authorities have appealed to the public to stay away from the site to allow rescue teams to work without obstruction.
An investigation has been initiated to determine the circumstances leading to the collapse and to examine whether negligence played any role in the tragedy. Local authorities are also expected to assess the condition of nearby buildings to prevent similar incidents.