Two people lost their lives when a section of a residential building, Ramabai Apartment in Virar East, collapsed in the early hours of Wednesday. Eyewitnesses fear that between 15 and 20 people may still be trapped under the rubble.
The collapse occurred while a birthday party for a one-year-old girl was taking place on the building’s fourth floor. The incident shook residents and visitors, many of whom were present at the celebration when the structure gave way, according to the several media reports.
VIDEO | Mumbai: Four-storey building collapses near Ganpati Temple, Vijay Nagar, Virar. Rescue and relief operations underway. More details area awaited#MumbaiNews
(Full video available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/1N3rnKYsJx
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 27, 2025
Rescue operations in full swing
Rescue teams, including the police, fire brigade and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), quickly reached the site. Ambulances were also deployed to rush the injured to hospitals. So far, 11 people have been rescued, out of which two, including a one-year-old child, have died.
“15 to 20 are said to be trapped under the debris,” one eyewitness told TOI. While five people were initially pulled out and admitted to VVCMC hospital, ongoing efforts are focused on saving more lives. Officials have not yet given a final confirmation on the number of casualties.
Authorities have evacuated the adjacent, undamaged wing of the two-winged building as a precaution to avoid further casualties. Engineers are also assessing the full extent of the structural damage.
NDRF’s challenge in narrow lane
Two teams of the NDRF were rushed to the spot, one from Mumbai and another from Palghar. As soon as the information came in around midnight, the nearest team reached the site. During the initial manual and canine search, four people were pulled out – one was dead and three were rescued alive, NDRF Deputy Commander Pramod Singh told news agency ANI.
#WATCH | Palghar, Maharashtra | On the rescue operations after a building collapses in Virar, NDRF Deputy Commander Pramod Singh says, "Two teams of the NDRF responded to the accident site. One team is from Mumbai and one is from Palghar. As soon as the information was received… https://t.co/3gwlzNL3yg pic.twitter.com/8iA3leESZh
— ANI (@ANI) August 27, 2025
“Sadly, a one-year-old child died on the way to the hospital. So far, 11 people have been rescued. Locals believe that around five more people may still be trapped. The operation may go on today and even tomorrow, as the passage to the site is very narrow and heavy machines cannot be used. All the work has to be done manually,” he said.