Four Dead, 11 Feared Trapped as Bhiwandi Building Collapses

At least four people were killed after a four-storey residential building collapsed late Thursday night in Bhiwandi's Balaji Nagar Gangaramwadi area, triggering a major rescue operation by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Thane Disaster Response Force (TDRF), and the local fire brigade. The building, identified as Kohinoor Apartment, was earlier declared 'dangerous' by the Bhiwandi-Nizampur City Municipal Corporation.

According to preliminary information, the structure gave way suddenly, trapping several people under the debris. Officials fear that around 11 people—six labourers and five residents—may still be trapped beneath the rubble. Search and rescue operations are continuing, with teams using heavy machinery, cutting tools, and sniffer dogs to locate survivors. As of Friday morning, four bodies have been recovered from the site.

The building was located in a densely populated residential area, and the collapse has sent shockwaves through the community. Local residents gathered at the site, anxiously awaiting news of their loved ones. The district administration, along with police and medical teams, has been deployed to assist in the rescue effort. An official from the Thane district collectorate said that a probe has been ordered to determine the cause of the collapse.

This incident is the latest in a series of building collapses in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, where many old and poorly maintained structures remain occupied despite being flagged as unsafe by civic authorities. In many cases, residents continue to live in hazardous buildings due to a lack of affordable housing options. Experts have repeatedly emphasised the need for strict enforcement of building safety regulations and a comprehensive rehabilitation policy for occupants of dilapidated structures.

The monsoon season often exacerbates the risk, as heavy rains weaken foundations and walls. Civic authorities in Maharashtra have been urged to conduct regular structural audits and act swiftly on reports of dangerous buildings. However, implementation remains uneven, and tragedies like the one in Bhiwandi underscore the human cost of such lapses.

Rescue operations are being conducted on a war footing, with NDRF teams working alongside local emergency responders. Authorities have appealed to the public to stay away from the site to allow smooth rescue work and to avoid spreading unverified information. The affected families are being provided immediate assistance, and the government has promised action against those responsible for the negligence that led to the collapse.

As the search continues, families wait in anguish, hoping for miracles. The incident serves as a grim reminder of the urgent need to prioritise building safety and protect vulnerable communities from preventable disasters.