Palghar: A tragic building collapse late Tuesday night in Palghar district’s Virar claimed two lives and left several injured, with rescue operations still underway. Officials confirmed that the rear portion of Ramabai Apartment, a four-storey building, crumbled around 11:30 pm, crashing onto an adjoining chawl and trapping multiple residents under debris.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Fire Department, and Vasai Virar Municipal Corporation teams launched a joint rescue operation soon after the incident. NDRF Deputy Commander Pramod Singh stated that two NDRF teams, one each from Mumbai and Palghar, were deployed to the site immediately after receiving the alert at midnight.

“Two teams of the NDRF responded to the accident site. One team is from Mumbai and one is from Palghar. As soon as the information was received at 12 am, the nearest team responded. In the primary manual and canine search, four people were pulled out. Among them, one was dead, and three were rescued alive. A one-year-old child died on the way to the hospital. 11 people have been rescued so far.”

“The locals say that around 5 people may still be trapped… The rescue may continue today and tomorrow. All the work has to be done manually as the way to the building is narrow and heavy machinery cannot be brought here…” NDRF Deputy Commander Pramod Singh said, adding that the narrow lanes made it impossible to deploy heavy machinery.

So far, 11 individuals have been rescued and shifted to nearby hospitals in Virar and Nala Sopara. The deceased have been identified as 24-year-old Aarohi Omkar Jovil and one-year-old Utkarsha Jovil.

The injured include Prabhakar Shinde (57), Pramila Shinde (50), Prerna Shinde (20), Vishakha Jovil (24), Manthan Shinde (19), and Sanjoy Singh (24). Others like Pradeep Kadam (40), Jayashree Kadam (33), and Mitali Parmar (28) were discharged after receiving first aid.

Authorities fear more casualties as search and rescue continues under challenging conditions. The collapse has once again raised questions over the safety of old residential structures in the rapidly growing Vasai-Virar region.

Muslim cemetery trusts have complained about problems arising due to rainwater accumulation in the burial grounds in Mumbai during funerals.

Member of Legislative Assembly, Raees Sheikh, has written to the municipal commissioner, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, about the problem during rains.

Shaikh said that various cemeteries in Mumbai are experiencing severe waterlogging during the monsoon season, creating inconvenience to mourners. “Due to this, relatives as well as grave diggers are facing extreme difficulties while performing the last rites, and it is often difficult to perform the burial ceremony on time,” said Shaikh who specifically named Narialwadi cemetery, Mazgaon; Bada Kabrastan, Marine Lines; Deonar cemetery in Govandi; and Rafi Nagar cemetery, Govandi.

Shaikh urged the BMC to take permanent and effective measures for drainage system, water pumping system and cleanliness to prevent rainwater from accumulating in the above cemeteries. 

A heartbreaking incident was reported in Mira Road today after a slab from the Noorjahan-1 building, located opposite Zudio, collapsed. The mishap claimed the life of a four-year-old child, while the child’s father sustained injuries and has been admitted to Wockhardt Hospital.

The 40-year-old structure has long been flagged for redevelopment, but the project has remained stuck for nearly a decade due to incomplete documentation and disputes with the developer. Residents allege that repeated delays and negligence have left several such buildings in dangerous conditions.

Local citizens are now questioning the inaction of the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) and builders in addressing unsafe and dilapidated structures across the city.

The incident has sparked anger and grief within the community, with many warning that unless urgent measures are taken, more lives could be at risk.

Navi Mumbai: Woman Left Bleeding As Slab Crashes Down In Nerul Flat Amid Relentless Rains

A woman was injured after a portion of a slab collapsed inside a flat at Vighnaharta Society, Sector-1, Nerul, on Wednesday afternoon. She was rushed to a nearby hospital, where she is currently undergoing treatment.

A video of the incident, shows the woman bleeding and visibly shaken following the collapse.

According to civic officials, the structure had already been in a deteriorated state and the recent spell of heavy rainfall further weakened it, leading to the accident. “The slab gave way due to long-standing damage, made worse by continuous rains in the city,” an official confirmed.

The incident has once again raised concerns about the safety of ageing housing societies in Navi Mumbai, many of which have been flagged for urgent repairs.

Authorities must carry out a structural audit of the building in the coming days.