15 dead as illegal four-storey building collapses in Maharashtra, builder arrested

At least 15 people were killed after the rear section of an unauthorised four-storey building collapsed onto a vacant chawl in Virar of Maharashtra’s Palghar district shortly after midnight on Wednesday. The incident occurred around 12.05 am, leaving several others injured and many feared trapped under the rubble. Officials confirmed that six people are critically injured.

Rescue operations have been underway for more than 20 hours, involving the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and civic teams. Initial clearance was done manually due to the congested location before machinery was deployed. District Collector Indu Rani Jakhar said some people may still be under the debris, while adjoining tenements were evacuated as a precautionary measure.

Seven of the deceased have been identified so far. They include Arohi Omkar Jovil (24), her daughter Utkarsha (1), Laxman Kisku Singh (26), Dinesh Prakash Sapkal (43), Supriya Nivalkar (38), Arnav Nivalkar (11), and Parvati Sapkal. Officials said some victims died at the site while others succumbed during treatment at nearby hospitals.

The collapse has left several families homeless. Authorities shifted them to Chandansar Samajmandir, where food, water, and medical assistance are being provided. According to officials, the collapsed section housed 12 apartments within a structure that originally had 54 flats and four shops when it was constructed between 2008 and 2009. Residents said certain modifications were carried out in 2012.

Police have arrested the builder, Nital Gopinath Sane, after the Vasai Virar Municipal Corporation (VVMC) lodged a complaint. A case has also been registered against the landowner. Charges include violations under sections 52, 53, and 54 of the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning (MRTP) Act and section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. VVMC Assistant Commissioner Gilson Gonsalves said debris clearance is “progressing on a war footing.”