August 28, 2025: At least 17 people have lost their lives after part of a four-storey residential building collapsed in Virar, located in Maharashtra’s Palghar district. The rear section of the Ramabai Apartment gave way in the early hours of Wednesday, crashing onto a chawl below around 12:05 am on the intervening night of August 26 and 27.
Rescue teams have so far pulled nine survivors from the debris, two of whom sustained injuries and are being treated in hospital. Officials fear that more people may still be trapped beneath the rubble.
Two specialised units of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were deployed to the site — one from Mumbai and the other from Palghar. They have been working in tandem with the Vasai Virar Municipal Corporation Fire Department, local police and other emergency services. Operations have stretched for more than 36 hours, with teams painstakingly clearing debris to avoid endangering potential survivors.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed deep sorrow over the loss of life, posting condolences on X, formerly Twitter. He announced ex gratia payments of Rs 5 lakh for the families of those killed and assured government support for the injured and bereaved.
On Thursday, police arrested Niley Sane, the 50-year-old builder of the Ramabai Apartment. He has been charged under several provisions of the Maharashtra Regional Town Planning Act relating to unauthorised construction, as well as Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which pertains to culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
Residents have demanded strict accountability, blaming substandard construction and official negligence for the tragedy. Authorities are expected to launch a full inquiry into the collapse, with safety inspections of other buildings in the Vasai Virar region likely to follow.
Source: Bhaskar English
