Tragic Collapse in Bhiwandi: Safety Notices Ignored as Workers Remain Trapped

In Bhiwandi, the B-Wing of the Kohinoor Apartment located in Gangaram Wadi was previously deemed unsafe, with authorities issuing four separate notices to highlight its dangerous condition. Most residents had been evacuated, leading to the assumption that the building was empty and the threat had been neutralized. However, the situation took a tragic turn when the structure collapsed late on July 30, resulting in the deaths of nine individuals the following morning, with many more feared trapped beneath the rubble. This incident raises serious concerns about how individuals ended up inside a building that had been officially classified as hazardous. Initial reports indicate that the people inside were primarily workers, some of whom were retrieving personal belongings while others were engaged in repair work at the site.

Preliminary investigations reveal that the four-story building, situated in Bhandari Compound under Ward Committee No. 4, had been vacated by the authorities. Despite this, a few individuals managed to enter the premises to collect their belongings, coinciding with ongoing repair activities. Local BJP MLA Mahesh Choughule confirmed that the administration had indeed issued four notices declaring the building unsafe, and most residents had already been evacuated prior to the collapse. He stated, "This is the Kohinoor building in the Bhandari Compound at Narpoli. There was another building adjacent to it. The Municipal Corporation had classified it as 'Category C', meaning it was deemed dangerous. Although the building had been vacated, some people were working on the ground floor. It appears that around six or seven people might be trapped, comprising the laborers who were working there... The NDRF team has arrived and the police are present as well. The entire Municipal Corporation team is engaged in the effort," he elaborated.