Palghar: The death toll from the Palghar building collapse has risen to 15, with nine others injured and two residents still missing, officials confirmed on Thursday. The collapse occurred late Tuesday night when a section of the four-storey Ramabai Apartment in Virar East fell onto an adjacent chawl, trapping several residents under debris.
During the initial manual and canine search, four people were pulled outโone was declared dead on site, while three were rescued alive. Tragically, a one-year-old child died while being transported to the hospital. Rescue operations are ongoing to locate the missing residents.
Sanjay Hirwade, Additional Commissioner of Vasai Virar Municipal Corporation, said authorities are closely monitoring the situation. Emergency services, including the fire brigade, local police, and two NDRF teams from Mumbai and Palghar, have been deployed to the site. Barricades have been set up for crowd control, and nearby residents have been temporarily evacuated as a precaution.
Vasai Virar police have arrested the builder of the collapsed building, 50-year-old Niley Sane. He has been booked under sections 52, 53, 54 of the Maharashtra Regional Town Planning (MRTP) Act and section 105 of the BNS, which include charges of negligence and attempt to murder.
The rescued individuals are receiving treatment at hospitals in Virar and Nalasopara, with some in serious condition. Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the collapse while ensuring the safety of surrounding buildings.
