17 dead in Virar building collapse near Mumbai

The death toll in the building collapse near Mumbai has risen to 17, following a tragic incident in the Virar area of Palghar district, about 30 kilometers from the city, according to officials.

The collapse occurred early on the morning of August 27, when the rear portion of the Ramabai Apartment, a 13-year-old unauthorized four-storey structure in Vijay Nagar, gave way and buried several residents under debris.

Rescue operations are still underway, with teams from the Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation’s fire brigade and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) actively working to remove debris from the site.

The incident took place in Ramabai Apartment, a 13-year-old unauthorised four-storey structure in Vijay Nagar. Officials said that the rear portion of the building suddenly gave way at around 12:05 am on August 27, burying residents under tonnes of debris.

While talking to UNI, Lalu Ture, Senior Inspector, Virar Police Station, confirmed the death and injuries while adding that the rescue operation is still underway.

The deceased have been identified as Arohi Omkar Jovil, (24), Uttkarsha Jovil, Laxman Kisku Singh, (26), Dinesh Prakash Sakpal, (43), Supriya Nivadkar, (38), Arnav Nivadkar, (11), Parvati Sakpal, (60), Dipesh Soni, (41), Sachin Newadkar, (40), Harish Singh Bist, (34), Sonali Rupesh Tejam, (41), Deepak Singh Bohra, (25), Kashish Pawan Saheni, (35), Subhangi Pawan Saheni, (40), Govind Singh Rawat, (28).

The identity of two more deceased individuals, whose bodies were recovered this afternoon, has not yet been disclosed. The death toll in the Virar building collapse, which occurred in the early hours of August 27, has now risen to 17.

hief Minister Devendra Fadnavis paid tribute to the victims, announcing an ex-gratia payment of Rs 5 lakh for each of the deceased’s families. "We stand with the bereaved families in this hour of grief," Fadnavis said in a statement. The Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) added that the ongoing rescue operation, which has been underway for 48 hours with the assistance of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), is expected to conclude within the next few hours.

Meanwhile the builder of the collapsed structure, Nital Gopinath Sane, has been arrested following a complaint filed by the civic official.

A case has also been registered against the landowner under sections 52, 53, and 54 of the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning (MRTP) Act, as well as section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.