Mumbai: Two people were killed and two others sustained injuries after a landslide triggered by heavy rainfall struck a residential cluster in Mumbai’s Ghatkopar area early Wednesday morning. The incident occurred at Gaushiya Chawl, located in the Ashok Nagar locality of Chirag Nagar, around 3:48 AM, according to officials from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.
The collapse took place when a massive portion of soil and hillside debris slid onto two to three row houses. Search and rescue operations faced severe logistical hurdles due to the topography of the site. The access route to the affected chawl is exceptionally narrow, allowing passage to only one individual at a time, which hindered the deployment of heavy machinery and emergency clearance vehicles.
Emergency personnel recovered two bodies from under the rubble, and they were subsequently transported to Rajawadi Hospital. Two survivors were rescued and admitted to the civic-run Bhabha Hospital in Kurla. The injured individuals were identified as 18-year-old Sohel Ansari, who sustained a head injury, and 14-year-old Mohamad Ansari, who suffered a back injury. Both patients remain under medical care in stable condition.
Multi-agency relief efforts were launched at the site, involving the Mumbai Fire Brigade, local police personnel, National Disaster Response Force teams, civic ward staff, and emergency medical services.
Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde visited the site to supervise rescue operations and review relief coordination among responding agencies. She met with the affected families and announced ex-gratia financial assistance of Rs 4 lakh for the next of kin of each deceased victim, along with Rs 50,000 to cover medical expenses for each injured person. Tawde instructed civic and disaster authorities to maintain seamless coordination and intensify search efforts to ensure no individuals remain trapped beneath the debris.