Tragic Building Collapse in Virar, Maharashtra Claims 12 Lives

Building Collapse in Virar

A tragic incident occurred in Virar, located in Maharashtra's Palghar district, where a section of an unauthorized four-story building collapsed onto an adjacent vacant structure. This disaster resulted in the deaths of 12 individuals, including a mother and her daughter, while six others sustained serious injuries, as reported by officials.

Rescue teams recovered six bodies from the debris, while the remaining six victims succumbed to their injuries in various hospitals. The rear portion of the Ramabai Apartment fell at approximately 12:05 AM on Tuesday.

Following a complaint lodged by the Vasai Virar Municipal Corporation (VVMC), authorities apprehended the builder of the collapsed structure. So far, seven victims have been identified, including 24-year-old Arohi Omkar Jovil, her one-year-old daughter Utkarsha Jovil, 26-year-old Lakshman Kisku Singh, 43-year-old Dinesh Prakash Sapkal, 38-year-old Supriya Nivalkar, 11-year-old Arnav Nivalkar, and Parvati Sapkal.

Indu Rani Jakhad, the district collector, visited the site and expressed concerns that more individuals might still be trapped under the rubble. Vivekanand Kadam, the district disaster management officer for Palghar, noted that it was fortunate the building collapsed onto an empty chawl.

As a precaution, all nearby chawls have been evacuated, and residents have been relocated to safer locations. Kadam mentioned that the Ramabai Apartment, constructed in 2012, consists of 50 flats, with 12 units affected by the collapse.

A spokesperson for the VVMC confirmed the building's illegal status. VVMC Assistant Commissioner Gilson Gonsalves stated, 'Currently, the debris removal operation is ongoing.' This incident has left many families homeless.

Gonsalves added, 'All affected families have been temporarily accommodated at the Chandan Sar Society Temple. We are providing them with food, water, medical assistance, and other essential services.'