A moment of joy turned into a horrifying tragedy just after midnight on Wednesday, when a four-storey unauthorised residential structure collapsed in Virar’s Vijay Nagar area, resulting in the deaths of 15 individuals, including a young mother and her one-year-old daughter.
The building, known as Ramabai Apartment, housed approximately 50 flats and was constructed illegally in 2011–2012. Around 12:05 am on August 27, a rear section comprising 12 flats gave way, crashing onto a neighboring, vacant chawl structure. At the time, a family birthday celebration was underway on the fourth floor, which tragically became the epicenter of the collapse.
Minutes After Cake-Cutting, Family Buried in Collapse
Aarohi Joyal (24) and her infant daughter Utkarsha were among those killed, while the child’s father, Omkar Joyal, remains missing. Just minutes before the incident, the family had been celebrating the baby’s birthday, cutting cake and taking photographs. Decorations with balloons and lights were still visible in the debris.
“Unfortunately, we have lost Aarohi Omkar Jovil and Utkarsha Jovil. Both were found unresponsive under the rubble and declared dead upon arrival at hospital,” said Vivekanand Kadam, Palghar’s District Disaster Management Officer, as quoted by PTI.
By Thursday morning, the death toll had risen to 15 after three more bodies were recovered overnight. Six others sustained serious injuries and remain hospitalised, while three individuals have been treated and released.
Dr. Indu Rani Jakhar, the District Collector of Palghar, confirmed: “The death toll in the incident has gone up to 15. The work of clearing the debris by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and other rescue teams will continue to ensure no other person was trapped under the rubble.”
Rescue Teams Battle Rubble for Over 30 Hours
Emergency personnel, including the NDRF and fire services from the Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation (VVMC), have been carrying out non-stop rescue and recovery operations for over 30 hours. The narrow and densely built-up locality initially hindered the use of heavy equipment, forcing rescuers to work manually in the early stages.
VVMC officials stated that the apartment was constructed without legal approval. Despite being served with a notice in May, no steps were taken to address its structural issues. This collapse follows closely on the heels of a similar fatal incident in the area just 15 days earlier, when two laborers died during unauthorised construction activity.
The local police have arrested 47-year-old Nittal Sane, the builder of the collapsed structure. He has been booked under Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), along with relevant sections of the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act.
A fire department official noted, “The operation is difficult due to narrow streets and a densely populated area, and heavy machinery like JCB is facing difficulty entering the narrow lanes.”
Nearby Buildings Evacuated, Survivours Sheltered
Authorities have evacuated nearby buildings as a safety measure. Displaced families have been provided temporary shelter at Chandansar Samajmandir, where municipal teams are supplying food, drinking water, and medical care.
So far, 18 people have been rescued from the rubble. Eyewitnesses described the terrifying moment when an entire wing of the building gave way. Residents, many of whom were guests at the birthday party, were trapped in the ruins within seconds.
A local resident commented on the situation, stating, “If action had been taken in time, several lives could have been saved. This tragedy of Virar not only exposes the administrative apathy, but also tells how negligence and greed of VVCMC swallowed innocent lives.”
Despite numerous warnings and repeated tragedies, illegal constructions continue to pose a grave risk to low-income families in Palghar district who have limited housing options. Rescue efforts are ongoing as officials fear more people may still be buried under the debris.
