Bhiwandi Building Collapse: One Dead, Seven Trapped; Rescue Operations Underway

At least one person was killed and seven to eight others remained trapped under the debris after a four-storey building collapsed in Maharashtra's Bhiwandi town late on Thursday night, officials said on Friday. The incident took place in the Balaji Nagar area of the powerloom town, where a portion of the Kohinoor Building caved in around 11:30 p.m., according to the Bhiwandi-Nizampur Municipal Corporation.

Fire Officer Vijay Jadhav of the municipal corporation confirmed that the body of one person was recovered from the rubble. An injured boy was rescued and immediately rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment. Seven to eight individuals are still believed to be trapped under the debris, and a large-scale search and rescue operation is currently in progress, officials said.

The building, which housed 48 rooms across four floors—12 on each level—had been declared dangerous by the civic body prior to the collapse. The structure was undergoing repair work at the time of the incident, according to municipal officials. The declaration of the building as unsafe had prompted some concern among residents, but the exact circumstances leading to the collapse are yet to be determined.

Residents reported hearing "loud cracking sounds" emanating from the structure around 9 p.m. on Thursday, officials said. Fearing an imminent collapse, local residents began helping families evacuate to safer locations. However, while some occupants were still in the process of leaving, the 'B' wing of the building gave way, trapping several people underneath.

A multi-agency rescue operation was launched immediately after the collapse. Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the Thane Disaster Response Force, and the local fire brigade are working together at the site. The operation is being supported by a dog squad, four fire engines, two ambulances, and heavy earth-moving machinery to clear the debris and reach those trapped.

The Bhiwandi-Nizampur Municipal Corporation has not yet issued an official statement regarding the cause of the collapse or the number of families affected. However, officials on site have said that the priority is to rescue any remaining survivors. The condition of the rescued boy is reported to be stable, according to initial information.

Building collapses have been a recurring concern in Maharashtra, particularly in older and densely populated areas where structures are often aging and lack proper maintenance. Authorities have periodically highlighted the dangers of buildings declared unsafe, but enforcement of evacuation orders has sometimes been inconsistent. In this case, the building was known to be dangerous, yet repair work was underway, which may have contributed to the incident. A detailed investigation will be required to establish the sequence of events and any lapses in compliance.

Local administration has assured residents that all necessary assistance is being provided to the affected families. Relief and rehabilitation measures are expected to be announced once the rescue operation concludes. Authorities have also urged people to report any structurally unsafe buildings in their vicinity to prevent similar tragedies in the future.