A portion of a dilapidated residential building being demolished in Kalyan West collapsed onto a public road on Sunday afternoon, triggering panic among residents and raising concerns over demolition safety practices. While no injuries or fatalities were reported, the incident has prompted the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) to initiate an inquiry.
The incident occurred around 2 pm at the Vinayak Darshan building in Gholap Nagar, where demolition work was underway as part of a redevelopment project. Eyewitnesses said a large section of the structure suddenly gave way and crashed onto the adjoining road, creating a massive cloud of dust and forcing pedestrians and nearby residents to run for safety.
Videos of the collapse, recorded by bystanders, quickly spread across social media, drawing attention to safety measures followed during demolition activities in densely populated neighbourhoods.
Residents alleged that the contractor had failed to implement basic safety precautions before beginning the demolition. According to them, the site lacked adequate barricading, protective safety nets and other controlled demolition measures, exposing nearby buildings, motorists and pedestrians to potential danger.
Residents said the building had already been declared dangerous and had remained under observation for several days before it was handed over to a developer for redevelopment. They claimed demolition work began after rainfall subsided but was carried out without following standard safety protocols, resulting in the partial collapse onto the road.
KDMC officials confirmed that the building was being demolished as part of the redevelopment process. The civic body stated that an investigation has been initiated to determine whether there was any negligence by the contractor or other agencies involved in the demolition.
Officials added that if lapses are established during the inquiry, appropriate legal action will be taken against those responsible.
The incident has renewed calls for stricter enforcement of demolition safety norms, particularly during the monsoon, when ageing structures and unstable ground conditions heighten the risk of accidents during redevelopment.
Source: The Free Press Journal
