Bhiwandi building collapse: 8 dead, several feared trapped as rescue operation continues

At least eight people were killed after a portion of a four-storey residential building collapsed late Thursday night in Bhiwandi, Maharashtra’s Thane district. Rescue teams fear more people may still be trapped beneath the debris.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the Bhiwandi Fire Brigade are leading the rescue operation.

According to Bhiwandi Fire Officer Nitin Chavan, local residents reported that six occupants and five workers carrying out repair work were missing after the collapse.

“So far, we have recovered eight bodies from the debris, and there is a possibility that more bodies may still be trapped underneath. Rescue operations are ongoing. The bodies have been sent to IGM Hospital, and the workers are yet to be identified,” Chavan said.

The incident occurred at the Kohinoor Building in Balaji Nagar’s Gangaram Wada area. Fire officials said the building had already been declared unsafe by the Bhiwandi-Nizampur Municipal Corporation (BNMC), but repair work was underway at the time of the collapse.

Residents reportedly heard loud cracking sounds between 8 pm and 9 pm, prompting many families to evacuate. However, around 11 pm to 11.30 pm, a section of the building’s B Wing collapsed while some residents and repair workers were still inside.

The building comprised 48 rooms, with 12 rooms on each floor.

Emergency teams, including the NDRF, Bhiwandi Fire Brigade and Bhoiwada Police, rushed to the site. Rescue efforts are being supported by trained sniffer dogs, ambulances and heavy machinery.

Authorities said the exact cause of the collapse is yet to be determined, while search and rescue operations remain underway.