New Delhi, July 31: President Droupadi Murmu and Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan on Friday expressed grief over the loss of lives in the building collapse in Maharashtra Bhiwandi and expressed their condolences to the bereaved families.

President Murmu took to her official social media platform X and said, “The news of the loss of lives in the building collapse in Maharashtra’s Bhiwandi is deeply saddening. I express my condolences to the bereaved families. I wish a speedy recovery to those injured in this accident.”

Vice-President Radhakrishnan also expressed grief over the tragedy and said, “Deeply saddened by the loss of lives due to the collapse of a building in Thane area of Bhiwandi in Maharashtra. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. I pray for the swift recovery of those injured.”

Meanwhile, the death toll in the Bhiwandi building collapse in Maharashtra’s Thane has risen to nine, with rescue teams recovering the bodies from the debris, according to the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).

Rescue operations are still underway as authorities fear that more people may be trapped beneath the rubble.

The tragic incident occurred late on Thursday night when a portion of the four-storey Kohinoor Building in the Balaji Nagar area of Bhiwandi collapsed while repair work was reportedly in progress.

Officials said the collapse took place at around 11:30 p.m. The building, which housed 48 rooms, 12 on each floor had previously been declared dangerous by the local civic body.

According to municipal authorities, residents heard loud cracking sounds coming from the structure at around 9 p.m. on Thursday. Alarmed by the warning signs, local residents immediately began helping families evacuate the building.

However, while some occupants were still attempting to leave the premises, the building’s ‘B’ wing suddenly collapsed. Several people were trapped under the debris, triggering a large-scale rescue operation involving the NDRF and other emergency response agencies.

Deepak Kumar Yadav, a survivor of the incident, told media, “Repair work was being carried out on the pillars of a nearby building. After dinner, we went to sleep when we suddenly heard a loud sound of the collapsing building. When we rushed out, there was chaos everywhere. I jumped from the first floor to save my life.”

Neha Singh, a local resident searching for her husband after the collapse, said, “He (My husband) had gone downstairs saying he needed to check something. The building collapsed barely 10 minutes after he went down. The incident occurred around 11:30 p.m. Some work was going on there. I was not feeling well, which is why I had stayed upstairs. My husband, Ranjeet Singh, has been missing since the collapse. His phone is ringing, but he is not answering.”

Another survivor in the building collapse tragedy, Sangeeta Prajapati, said, “I was standing in the parking area when I heard the sound of the building cracking. I tried to run, but the structure collapsed while I was fleeing. I sustained injuries in the incident.”

Abhay Kumar Yadav recounted saying, “We were in our room after dinner when we heard a loud noise. We immediately tried to run outside, but there was no clear exit route, so I jumped from the first floor. I suffered a leg fracture. Later, some local residents brought a ladder, and others were able to climb down safely. There were around 25 to 30 people inside the building at the time. The building has nearly 45 rooms.”

After receiving information about the incident, teams from the NDRF and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) rushed to the spot.

Debris removal operations, assisted by JCB machines and other heavy equipment, continued throughout the night.

Officials said darkness and the massive debris have hampered rescue efforts, but teams remain engaged in the operation.

Mumbai, July 31: Seven families were cheated of Rs 68.50 lakh on the promise of securing government jobs for their children, with the accused claiming to have influential contacts in the Maharashtra Mantralaya (State Secretariat). The Azad Maidan Police have registered a fraud case and launched a search for the accused.

According to Mumbai Police, a major fraud involving the collection of lakhs of rupees from multiple families under the pretext of providing government employment has come to light in the city. Acting on complaints filed by the victims, the Azad Maidan Police have booked two accused persons for cheating and criminal breach of trust.

Among the victims is a retired Sister-in-Charge from GT Hospital. Police said the accused collectively swindled Rs 68.50 lakh from seven families over several years by promising government jobs.

Investigators revealed that the scam dates back to 2014. The complainant was searching for employment opportunities for her son when Suryakant Nivrutti Magre, a neighbour and colleague residing in the GT Hospital staff quarters, approached her with an offer. Magre allegedly claimed that his relative, Yogesh Jagannath Patankar, worked at the Mantralaya and had considerable influence in securing government appointments.

The accused promised to obtain a Senior Clerk position in a government department for the complainant’s son and demanded Rs 5 lakh in return. Trusting Magre because of their professional and personal association, the complainant paid the amount in instalments between April and December 2014. Police said she even mortgaged her jewellery to arrange the money.

After receiving the payment, the accused allegedly continued delaying the appointment process. On December 10, 2019, the complainant’s son was sent to a Primary Health Centre in Khalapur for what was described as a mandatory medical examination. Upon reaching the centre, the family discovered that several other candidates and their parents had also been called for similar tests.

However, no appointment letters were issued. The accused allegedly continued making excuses, citing administrative delays and later the COVID-19 pandemic. As years passed without any progress, the victims realised they had been cheated.

Further investigation revealed that six other families had fallen victim to the same scheme, resulting in a total loss of Rs 68.50 lakh. The Azad Maidan Police have recorded statements from the victims and intensified efforts to trace and arrest the accused.

Bhiwandi, July 31: A four-storey building collapsed in Bhiwandi in Maharashtra Thane district, leaving six people dead, according to the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). Authorities fear that several others may still be trapped under the debris, and rescue operations are continuing at the site.

The building had started tilting late on the night of July 30 and collapsed on Thursday night. After noticing the danger, several labourers working there evacuated the premises. Repair work was reportedly underway in the building at the time, which is believed to have reduced the number of people inside when the collapse occurred.

During the rescue operation, NDRF personnel recovered two bodies from the debris. The team also rescued a woman alive from the rubble and immediately shifted her to a nearby hospital for treatment. Her condition is reported to be stable.

Deepak Kumar Yadav, a survivor of the incident, told media, “Repair work was being carried out on the pillars of a nearby building. After dinner, we went to sleep when we suddenly heard a loud sound of the collapsing building. When we rushed out, there was chaos everywhere. I jumped from the first floor to save my life.”

Neha Singh, a local resident searching for her husband after the collapse, said, “He had gone downstairs saying he needed to check something. The building collapsed barely 10 minutes after he went down. The incident occurred around 11:30 p.m. Some work was going on there. I was not feeling well, which is why I had stayed upstairs. My husband, Ranjeet Singh, has been missing since the collapse. His phone is ringing, but he is not answering.”

Another survivor, Sangeeta Prajapati, said, “I was standing in the parking area when I heard the sound of the building cracking. I tried to run, but the structure collapsed while I was fleeing. I sustained injuries in the incident.”

Abhay Kumar Yadav recounted, “We were in our room after dinner when we heard a loud noise. We immediately tried to run outside, but there was no clear exit route, so I jumped from the first floor. I suffered a leg fracture. Later, some local residents brought a ladder, and others were able to climb down safely. There were around 25 to 30 people inside the building at the time. The building has nearly 45 rooms.”

According to the administration, at least three to four labourers are still feared trapped under the debris. Rescue operations are progressing slowly due to the large volume of rubble.

After receiving information about the incident, teams from the NDRF and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) rushed to the spot. Debris removal operations, assisted by JCB machines and other heavy equipment, continued throughout the night. Officials said darkness and the massive debris have hampered rescue efforts, but teams remain engaged in the operation.