Declared Unsafe, Yet Occupied Bhiwandi Building Collapse Kills 10
Several people are feared to be trapped beneath the debris while rescue teams continued searching for survivors
Mumbai: At least 10 people were killed after a four-storey residential building collapsed in Bhiwandi city of Thane district in Maharashtra late Thursday night. Several people are feared trapped beneath the debris as rescue teams continue searching for survivors.
The incident took place at around 11:30 pm at the Kohinoor Building in the Balaji Nagar area of Bhiwandi. Residents said they heard loud cracking sounds from the building around 9 pm. Alarmed by the noise, locals evacuated several families from the premises. However, while some occupants were still making their way out, the building's B Wing suddenly caved in.
Personnel from the NDRF and the Thane Disaster Response Force (TDRF), along with local fire brigade teams, police and district administration officials, carried out search and rescue operations using specialised equipment.
Expressing grief over the tragedy, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, "The loss of lives in the Bhiwandi building collapse is deeply tragic. I offer my heartfelt tributes to the deceased and convey my condolences to their families. I have directed the Municipal Commissioner to immediately register a case and ensure strict action against those responsible."
According to the Bhiwandi-Nizampur City Municipal Corporation (BNCMC), the Kohinoor Building was classified as a 'Category C' structure, declaring it unsafe for habitation. The municipal corporation had issued several notices, and nearly 25 families had been evacuated as a pre-emptive measure.
"However, the family on the ground floor decided to stay despite repeated requests. They had refused to vacate and were undertaking repair work on the ground floor when the building collapsed," a BNCMC official said.
"There are many such buildings in Bhiwandi that have been declared dangerous. I would advise people living in such buildings to vacate them immediately," BNCMC Mayor Narayan Chaudhary said.
Those who died in the building collapse have been identified as Shamim Shaikh (32), Radhe Shyam (45), Shiraj Rasool Shaikh (34), Ranjit Singh (45), Miraj Rasul Shaikh (34), Santosh Kumar Pandey (40), Rakesh Paswan (25), Shamim Ansari (30), Mukesh Paswan (30-35) and Ashok Paswan (40-45).
Meanwhile, in the aftermath of the Bhiwandi building collapse, CM Fadnavis called for the evacuation of dangerous buildings with greater urgency, saying authorities should use persuasion and, if necessary, force to move residents to safety.
"People living in C1-category buildings should be evacuated with greater persuasion and insistence. If required, some force can also be used to evacuate them from such dilapidated structures. There are certain restrictions due to court orders, but saving lives is equally important," the CM said.
