4-Storey Building Collapses in Maharashtra’s Bhiwandi; 6 Dead, Several Trapped Under Rubble
At least six people were killed after a four-storey building collapsed in Maharashtra’s Bhiwandi area, officials said on Friday. Six to seven residents are feared trapped under the debris as rescue teams continue operations at the site.
A portion of the Kohinoor Building in Balaji Nagar, Bhiwandi, located in Thane district, collapsed around 11:30 pm on Thursday, officials said.
Resident Deputy Collector Sandeep Mane confirmed that six people had died in the incident. “At least six persons have been killed. All except one victim are yet to be identified. The bodies have been shifted to a government hospital for postmortem,” he said.
Officials said that six to seven people are still believed to be trapped under the rubble, while a massive search and rescue operation is underway. A minor who sustained injuries was pulled out from the debris and taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
According to municipal authorities, the building had 48 rooms, with 12 rooms on each floor. The structure had already been declared dangerous by the civic body, and repair work was reportedly being carried out when the tragedy occurred.
An official said residents heard loud cracking sounds from the building around 9 pm on Thursday. Sensing danger, local residents rushed to evacuate several families and helped move them to safer locations. However, while some occupants were still leaving the premises, the ‘B’ wing of the building collapsed, trapping several people inside.
A large-scale rescue operation has been launched involving multiple agencies, including teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Thane Disaster Response Force, and local fire brigade.
Rescue teams have deployed a dog squad, four fire engines, two ambulances, and heavy earth-moving equipment to search for survivors and clear the debris.
