Vivekanand Kadam, District Disaster Management Officer of Palghar, said the rear portion of Ramabai Apartment fell on the adjoining chawl, trapping multiple residents.
Maharashtra: In an unfortunate incident, two persons were killed and nine others injured after a part of a building collapsed in Vasai in Maharashtra’s Palghar district, an official said on Wednesday. The injured have been rushed to various hospitals in Virar and Nalasopara, on the outskirts of Mumbai.
The rear portion of the four-storey Ramabai Apartment, located on Narangi Road in Vasai, crashed onto a chawl in the vicinity around 12.05 am, he said.
Citing preliminary information, Vivekanand Kadam, District Disaster Management Officer of Palghar, said the rear portion of Ramabai Apartment fell on the adjoining chawl, trapping multiple residents.
“Unfortunately, we have lost Aarohi Omkar Jovil, aged 24, and Utkarsha Jovil, aged 1. Both were found unresponsive under the rubble and declared dead upon arrival at hospital,” Kadam.
The injured have been sent to hospitals in Virar, about 60 km from Mumbai, and neighbouring Nalasopara.
“Our priority is to ensure that no one remains trapped under the debris. We are continuing search operations using advanced equipment and trained rescue personnel,” said Kadam.
A VVMC spokesperson told the media at the crash site that two teams of the NDRF were working to clear the debris and find out if any more persons are trapped beneath. “The building, which has two wings, is “illegal,” he said.
A witness said the tragedy has marred the Ganesh festival celebrations planned by the building residents.
A temporary barricade has been set up around the site to manage crowd and facilitate ongoing efforts. Structural engineers are also assessing the remaining portions of the building for further risk, said Kadam.
“We are also working with municipal authorities to assess the structural stability of nearby buildings and the cause of the collapse. Residents from adjoining structures have been temporarily evacuated as a precaution,” he added.
