Tragic Building Collapse in Bhiwandi Claims Nine Lives

A devastating building collapse in Bhiwandi, Maharashtra, has led to the tragic loss of nine lives. Rescue teams are actively searching for additional victims trapped under the rubble. The incident occurred late Thursday night during repair work on the Kohinoor Building, which had been deemed unsafe. Eyewitness accounts reveal chaos as residents attempted to escape. As rescue operations continue, concerns remain about the possibility of more casualties. This incident highlights the urgent need for safety measures in aging structures.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 31, 2026, 11:20 IST

Overview of the Incident

Photo: @ians_india/X

Mumbai, July 31: The death toll from the recent building collapse in Bhiwandi, located in Maharashtra's Thane district, has tragically reached nine. Rescue teams, including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), are actively working to recover bodies from the rubble, with concerns that additional victims may still be trapped.

The incident unfolded late Thursday night when a section of the four-storey Kohinoor Building in Balaji Nagar collapsed during ongoing repair work.

Officials reported that the collapse occurred around 11:30 p.m. The structure, which contained 48 rooms distributed across four floors, had previously been marked as unsafe by local authorities.

Residents reported hearing loud cracking noises from the building around 9 p.m. on Thursday. In response to these alarming sounds, local inhabitants began assisting families in evacuating the premises.

Unfortunately, while some residents were still trying to escape, the 'B' wing of the building suddenly gave way, trapping numerous individuals under the debris and prompting a large-scale rescue operation involving the NDRF and other emergency services.

Deepak Kumar Yadav, a survivor, recounted, "Repair work was ongoing on the pillars of a nearby building. After dinner, we went to sleep when we suddenly heard a loud noise from the collapsing structure. When we rushed outside, chaos ensued. I jumped from the first floor to save myself."

Neha Singh, a local resident searching for her husband, shared her distress, saying, "He went downstairs to check something. The building collapsed just ten minutes after he left. I was feeling unwell and stayed upstairs. My husband, Ranjeet Singh, has been missing since the incident. His phone rings, but he doesn't answer."

Another survivor, Sangeeta Prajapati, described her experience: "I was in the parking area when I heard the building cracking. I tried to escape, but the structure fell as I was fleeing, and I got injured in the process."

Abhay Kumar Yadav added, "We were in our room after dinner when we heard a loud noise. We immediately tried to exit, but there was no clear path, so I jumped from the first floor and fractured my leg. Later, local residents brought a ladder, allowing others to escape. Approximately 25 to 30 people were inside the building at the time, which had nearly 45 rooms."

Upon learning of the incident, teams from the NDRF and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) quickly arrived at the scene. Debris removal efforts, supported by JCB machines and heavy equipment, continued throughout the night. Officials noted that darkness and the extensive debris have complicated rescue operations, but teams remain committed to the task.