Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Aug 1: Ten people were killed and three others injured after a portion of an unauthorised four-storey residential building collapsed in Maharashtra's Bhiwandi late on Thursday night. Police have registered a case against the building owner and contractor, who are currently absconding.
The incident occurred at Kohinoor Apartments in the Narpoli area when the B-wing of the 15-year-old building collapsed at around 11.20 pm, trapping several residents under the debris.
Rescue teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Thane Disaster Response Force and the fire brigade continued operations through the night and recovered 10 bodies by Friday evening. Officials said the chances of finding any more survivors were extremely slim.
According to civic officials, the B-wing, comprising 12 rooms on each of its four floors, began tilting at around 8 pm, prompting authorities to rush to the spot and advise residents to evacuate. Around 35 to 40 occupants, including labourers engaged in repair work, left the building before the collapse. Those who remained inside lost their lives when the structure gave way.
To facilitate rescue operations, authorities demolished a nearby chawl with 20 rooms to allow heavy machinery, ambulances and rescue vehicles access to the site.
The Bhiwandi Nizampur Municipal Corporation (BNMC) said the building had been declared dangerous and that repeated notices had been served to both the occupants and the owner, Bilal Khan, over the past six years.
Officials said the first eviction notice was issued in July 2020. A structural audit notice followed on September 7, 2020, after the building was declared unsafe. A reminder was issued on April 22, 2022, when the owner failed to submit the audit report. On June 5, 2026, the corporation again directed that the building be vacated. Civic authorities also claimed that electricity and water supply had been disconnected to compel residents to move out.
Despite this, the owner allegedly undertook repair work by engaging a contractor to install external supports without obtaining permission from the municipal authorities.
Some residents, however, disputed the corporation's claims. Abhay Yadav, who lives in the A-wing of the building, said neither he nor other residents had received evacuation notices or experienced any disruption in electricity or water supply.
Describing the nature of the collapse, NDRF Commandant Dr Santosh Chavan said it was a "pancake collapse", in which floors collapse one over another, leaving very little chance of survival for those trapped beneath the debris.
Additional Police Commissioner Ashok Dudhe said the contractor would be booked for negligence leading to multiple deaths.
Senior Police Inspector Vikram Mohite of Bhoiwada police station said an FIR has been registered against building owner Bilal Khan and contractor Shankar under Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Both accused are absconding, and efforts are underway to trace and arrest them.
State Water Resources and Disaster Management Minister Girish Mahajan visited the site and announced an ex gratia compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the families of each of the deceased.
The victims have been identified as Krish Kumar (32), Radheshyam Kushwaha (45), Ranjit Singh (45), Meraj Rasool Sheikh (34), Santosh Kumar Pandey (42), Shameem Ansari (30), Rakesh Paswan (25), Mukesh Paswan (30), Ashok Paswan (40) and Shyam Murari Pal.
The injured have been identified as Abhay Kumar (24), Deepak Kumar Yadav (25) and Sangeeta Prajapati (36).
Following the tragedy, Bhiwandi Mayor Narayan Chaudhary said the civic body has identified 135 dangerously dilapidated buildings within the municipal limits. He said evacuation of residents from these structures will begin on Sunday ahead of their planned demolition.