The number of victims in the collapse of the Virar building in the Maharaštra district in the Palghar district increased to 15 with recovery of three other bodies overnight, the officials said on Thursday (28 August 2025).
The unauthorized four -storey apartment Ramabai, which would be placed nearly 50 apartments, collapsed on the adjacent free tenant in Vijay Nagar in the Virar area in Palghar, adjacent to Mumbai on Wednesday (August 27, 2025), they said.
On the fourth floor there was a one -year girl’s birthday party, when 12 apartments in the wing of the building collapsed, captured inhabitants and guests under the Trosky, according to eyewitnesses.
Collector of Palghar Dr. Indu Rani Jakhar on Thursday (August 28, 2025) in the morning confirmed that the number of victims in the incident increased to 15 years.
The girl whose birthday was celebrated when the incident occurred was one of the deceased.
According to the official Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation (VVMC), six other people underwent and rescued.
Emergency teams, including the national strength of the reaction to disasters (NDRF), local police and fire brigade, continued to browse through a little debris and checked if any other person would remain imprisoned.
Work to clean the debris will continue to ensure that no other person is trapped under a little, said collector PTI.
“The work is almost complete, but we want to be absolutely sure before we close the operation,” she added.
The authorities identified seven deceased on Wednesday.
Another eight people who died was identified by Govind Singh Rarat (28), Shubhangi Pawan Saheni (40), Kashish Pawan Sahen (35), Deepak Singh Bera (25), Sonali Rupesh Tejam (41), Harish Singh (34), Sachin Nevalkar (40).
Eyewitnesses described the frightening scene where the moment of happiness immediately turned into chaos.
“People danced and celebrated (during the birthday party) when the whole structure suddenly collapsed like a package of cards,” the survivor said.
The consequences were marked by chaos and panic, when people screamed and blamed builders for negligence.
The inhabitants argued that, unlike previous incidents of building collapse, where cracks or structural weaknesses were visible in advance, there were no such warning marks.
Sudden collapse raised serious concerns about the safety of buildings and unauthorized buildings in this area.
The locals claimed “lethargy and negligence” to a part of the builders and authorities, and many demanded a thorough investigation into how an unauthorized structure could accommodate so many people without proper security measures.
On Wednesday, the police arrested the builder after the VVMC filed a complaint.
Fortunately, Chawl or the rent on which the building collapsed was unoccupied, said the officer of the proceedings of the catastrophe Vivekanand Kadam said.
As a preventive measure, all Chawls were relaxed around the unfortunate building and the residents moved to safer places, he said.
Ramabai’s apartment, which was built in 2012, has 50 apartments and the collapsed part had 12 apartments, Kadam said. VVMC spokesman confirmed that the building is “illegal”.
The removal of the debris was delayed because the officials initially tried to bring to the crashed building located in the overloaded locality of heavy machines.
The collapse caused several homeless families.
“All affected families were temporarily placed in Chandansar Samajmandir. We provide food, water, medical assistance and other basic services,” said Commissioner’s assistant VVMC Gilson Gonsalves.
Published – 27 August 2025 21:20
