Mumbai Chawl Collapse Kills Six, Including Four Women, Amid Heavy Rains
At least six people, including four women, died after a portion of a three-storey chawl collapsed in Mumbai's Mankhurd area late Saturday evening, officials confirmed. One person was injured and has been hospitalised.
The incident occurred around 8.30 pm in the Janta Nagar locality when a section of the G3 (ground plus three) chawl gave way, according to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). Two to three houses in Chawl No 5 were affected, trapping several residents under the debris.
Rescue teams, including fire brigade personnel and disaster response units, arrived promptly and launched an operation to extract those trapped. As of Sunday morning, all bodies have been recovered, and the injured person is reported to be in stable condition.
The exact cause of the collapse is yet to be determined. Heavy rainfall in Mumbai over the past 24 hours may have contributed to the structural failure, but officials stated that a detailed investigation is underway. Engineers are also assessing the stability of neighbouring structures to prevent further incidents.
Mumbai has been experiencing intense monsoon rains, leading to waterlogging and increased risk of building collapses, particularly in older, poorly maintained structures. The BMC has urged residents of dilapidated buildings to relocate to safer accommodations, but many continue to live in such conditions due to a lack of affordable housing.
Local authorities have announced compensation for the families of the deceased and are providing temporary shelter to displaced residents. The state government has ordered an inquiry into the incident.
