August 30, 2025: Days after the Virar building collapse that claimed 17 lives, state minister Pratap Sarnaik on Friday proposed that the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) temporarily hand over 60 vacant flats from another project to the Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation to accommodate displaced families.
Sarnaik, who visited the crash site, assured victims that the government would work towards a swift resolution. He also held discussions with deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde, who suggested cluster development as a long-term solution to the problem of illegal and unsafe constructions in the area.
Palghar guardian minister Ganesh Naik, who accompanied him, revealed that there are at least 140 unsafe illegal buildings across the Vasai-Virar belt. “The collapse has exposed a grave danger in the region. Immediate action is required to prevent further tragedies,” he said. Of the nine injured in the collapse, two have undergone surgery and remain under medical supervision. Doctors said their condition is stable.
Survivors recalled terrifying moments before the crash. Prerna Shinde, who lived on the third floor, said she noticed warning signs just minutes before the collapse. “A window on the fourth floor fell off and soon after, a crack appeared in my living room floor. We had decided to vacate the next day, but the building came down before we could leave,” she recounted.
The tragedy has sparked renewed debate over illegal structures in fast-growing suburban pockets around Mumbai, where housing demand often outpaces safety checks. Civic officials said a comprehensive survey of unsafe buildings in the Vasai-Virar region would be expedited, while relief measures for the victims are being coordinated.
Source: The Times Of India
