By | Arvind Jadhav
Palghar: A one-year-old girl’s birthday celebration ended in an unimaginable tragedy when a section of a four-storey residential building in Virar East collapsed shortly after midnight on Wednesday, killing at least 15 people and injuring several others.
The incident occurred at Ramabai Apartment in Vijay Nagar, a structure built in 2012 that reportedly lacked proper authorisation. According to eyewitnesses, around 12 flats on the rear side of the building crumbled without warning, trapping residents and guests under the debris. Among the victims were the birthday girl, Utkarsha Joyal, and her mother, Aarohi Joyal, while the father remains missing.
Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), fire brigade, and police worked through the night to pull survivors and recover bodies. By Thursday morning, officials confirmed the death toll had risen to 15, with six people hospitalized. Search operations continue to ensure no one remains trapped.
Authorities have arrested the building’s developer following complaints of illegal construction and negligence. Civic officials admitted that the structure had earlier received notices but no corrective measures were taken, raising serious questions about enforcement and accountability.
As a precaution, nearby chawls and informal settlements have been evacuated amid fears of further collapses. Displaced families are being sheltered at Chandansar Samaj Mandir, where they have access to food, water, medical care, and temporary accommodation.
Local residents have demanded a structural safety audit of similar buildings in the area. Urban planners say this tragedy highlights systemic lapses in monitoring unauthorized constructions in rapidly growing suburbs like Virar, where high demand for affordable housing often leads to compromised safety standards.
The Palghar district administration has promised compensation for victims’ families and pledged strict action against those responsible. Meanwhile, the state government is expected to review building regulations and urban safety protocols to prevent similar incidents in the future.
