10 Killed, Several Feared Trapped as 3-storey Building Collapses in Maharashtra's Bhiwandi

At least 10 people were killed and several others are feared trapped after a three-storey building collapsed in Maharashtra’s Bhiwandi on Monday, Municipal Corporation officials said. The incident happened at around 3:40 am in Patel Compound area in Bhiwandi which is located around 10 km from Thane. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), fire brigade and police teams are carrying out rescue efforts.

National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) officials said 15 people have been rescued so far and at least 20-25 people are feared to be trapped after the building caved early on Monday.

Police officials said that rescue efforts are ongoing. Personnel of the Thane Disaster Response Force (TDRF) were seen rescuing a child from the rubble and feeding him water. News18 has learnt that a notice was issued to get the 30-year-old building repaired and the municipal authorities had asked for the building to be vacated. The Municipal Commissioner of Bhiwandi, Dr Pankaj Asiya told News18 that the preliminary cause of the collapse has not yet been ascertained. He added that a notice was issued to get the three-decade-old building repaired.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has expressed grief over Bhiwandi building collapse and is reviewing the situation. He has instructed officials to undertake swift rescue and relief operations.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the building collapse and said that he was praying for the speedy recovery of those injured. “Saddened by the building collapse in Bhiwandi, Maharashtra. Condolences to the bereaved families. Praying for a quick recovery of those injured. Rescue operations are underway and all possible assistance is being provided to the affected,” PM Modi wrote on Twitter.

Union Home Minister expressed his condolences and said that NDRF teams are assisting rescue operations. “Anguished to learn about the tragic collapse of a building in Bhiwandi, Thane (Maharashtra).@NDRFHQ is already on the ground and is assisting with the rescue operations. My deepest condolences are with the bereaved families, praying for the speedy recovery of those injured,” he tweeted.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also offered his condolences to those who lost their loved ones in the building collapse. “The loss of precious lives due to building collapse in Bhiwandi (Maharashtra) is deeply saddening. In this hour of sadness, my thoughts are with the bereaved families. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured,” Singh tweeted.

Maharashtra Minister Eknath Shinde visited the site of the building collapse in Bhiwandi. Satya Pradhan, the chief of the National Disaster Response Force, said in a tweet that 20 to 25 people were reportedly trapped, and rescue teams have been rushed to the spot.

BJP leader and former Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased. “Extremely saddened to know about loss of lives in the #Bhiwandi building collapse incident. My deepest condolences to the families and praying for speedy recovery of the injured,” he said in a tweet.

Earlier in the month, the rear section of an eight-storey residential building had collapsed in Mumbai’s Dongri area. On September 1, a four-storey building collapsed in Palghar’s Achole area. In a similar incident on August 27, a septuagenarian woman and a 12-year-old girl were killed after a portion of a three-storey building collapsed in Nagpada area of south Mumbai.

Meanwhile, an under-construction building collapsed in old Delhi’s Sitaram Bazar area on Monday morning, officials said. One person was injured in the incident, the fire officials said, adding the rescue operation is underway.

(With inputs from agencies)