Palghar Building Collapse: Death Toll Rises to 15 as Rescue Operations Continue
Palghar, Aug 28 (PTI): The tragic collapse of a building in Virar, within Maharashtra's Palghar district, has now claimed 15 lives, following the discovery of three additional bodies overnight, confirmed officials on Thursday. The unauthorised Ramabai Apartment, a four-storey building with approximately 50 flats, fell on a neighboring vacant chawl at Vijay Nagar, Virar, close to Mumbai, at 12:05 am on Wednesday.
A one-year-old girl's birthday celebration was ongoing on the building's fourth floor when 12 flats in a section of the structure gave way, trapping both residents and guests under the debris.
Palghar District Collector, Dr. Indu Rani Jakhar, announced the increased death toll and confirmed that the young girl celebrating her birthday was among the deceased. Currently, six surviving individuals are receiving treatment at various hospitals, as reported by the Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation (VVMC).
Emergency teams, including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), local police, and fire department personnel, persist in sifting through the rubble to ensure no one remains trapped. "The operation is almost complete, but we need to be absolutely sure before concluding," said the district collector.
Authorities identified seven victims on Wednesday, and the newly identified deceased include Govind Singh Ravat (28), Shubhangi Pawan Saheni (40), Kashish Pawan Saheni (35), Deepak Singh Behra (25), Sonali Rupesh Tejam (41), Harish Singh Bisht (34), Sachin Nevalkar (40), and Deepesh Soni (41). According to eyewitnesses, the collapse transformed a joyous gathering into a scene of chaos.
Residents, caught unawares, expressed anger towards the builder, citing negligence. Unlike earlier instances of building collapses that showed warning signs, this incident occurred without any noticeable precursors. It has underscored serious concerns about building safety and unauthorized constructions in the region.
Accusations of "lethargy and negligence" from the builder and authorities have surfaced, with a growing call for a thorough investigation into how the unauthorized building accommodated such a large number of residents. Following a complaint by the VVMC, the builder was arrested on Wednesday.
Fortunately, the chawl upon which the building collapsed was unoccupied at the time, said Vivekanand Kadam, District Disaster Management Officer. As a precautionary action, all neighboring chawls have been evacuated, and residents relocated to safer environments.
Constructed in 2012, the Ramabai Apartment consisted of 50 flats, of which 12 were part of the collapsed section.
The building has been confirmed to be "illegal" by a VVMC spokesperson. The subsequent rescue efforts were hampered initially by difficulties in bringing heavy machinery to the tightly packed crash site, further delaying the debris removal.
The collapse has left several families without homes. "All affected families have been temporarily accommodated at Chandansar Samajmandir. We are ensuring they receive food, water, medical assistance, and other essential services," assured VVMC assistant commissioner Gilson Gonsalves.
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