At least nine people were killed after a portion of a four-storey residential building collapsed in Bhiwandi in Maharashtra’s Thane district late Thursday night. Rescue teams continued searching the debris on Friday as officials feared that more people could still be trapped beneath the concrete slabs.
The building, comprising 48 rooms with 12 on each floor, reportedly collapsed at around 11:30 PM. Civic authorities had previously classified the structure as dangerous, while repair work was underway when its B Wing suddenly gave way. Several workers involved in the repairs are believed to be among the victims.
Bhiwandi Building Collapsed Minutes After Evacuation
Residents said they began hearing loud cracking noises at around 9:00 PM, more than two hours before the collapse. Local people alerted the authorities and helped several families leave the premises before the structure came down.
Municipal officials reached the building after receiving information about newly developed cracks and began evacuating occupants. Most residents reportedly left, but some workers carrying out repairs remained inside. The structure collapsed only minutes after officials and residents moved away from the most vulnerable section.
Early rescue updates indicated that several people had been pulled from the rubble and taken to nearby hospitals. However, the casualty figure continued to increase as emergency teams removed more debris during the morning. Multiple reports placed the death toll at nine by Friday.
Bhiwandi Rescue Teams Search For Trapped Victims
Personnel from the National Disaster Response Force, Thane Disaster Response Force, local fire brigade and police were deployed at the site. Rescue dogs, ambulances, fire engines and heavy earth-moving equipment were also brought in to locate victims and carefully remove unstable sections.
The operation remained difficult because layers of concrete, steel and household materials were piled over one another. Rescuers worked through the debris while trying to avoid further movement that could endanger survivors or emergency personnel.
Officials said a few people were still feared trapped, although the exact number could change as residents, workers and building records were verified. Rescue and recovery efforts were continuing at the time of the latest update.
Bhiwandi Building Was Declared Dangerous Earlier
The civic body had reportedly declared the building unsafe before the tragedy. Officials also alleged that repair activity being carried out at the property was unauthorised, raising questions about whether adequate structural precautions and permissions were in place.
Authorities are expected to examine the building’s condition, the nature of the repair work and why people were allowed to remain inside an identified dangerous structure. Statements from residents about the cracking sounds could also become important to the investigation.
The tragedy has renewed concern about ageing and unsafe buildings across densely populated parts of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. The immediate priority, however, remains finding every person who may still be beneath the rubble and providing medical assistance to those rescued.
Bhiwandi Authorities Face Building Safety Questions
The collapse is likely to result in a detailed inquiry into the building’s structural stability, ownership, repair permissions and enforcement of evacuation notices. Responsibility may also be examined if warnings were issued but the premises continued to be occupied.
Officials have not yet announced the final cause of the collapse. The confirmed casualty count and number of survivors could be revised as the search operation progresses. Reports published during the morning carried changing figures between six and nine deaths, reflecting the rapidly developing nature of the rescue.
