Bhiwandi building collapse death toll rises to 9; President Murmu, V-P condole
Synopsis
A building declared dangerous by civic authorities collapsed in Bhiwandi late Thursday night, killing at least nine people and trapping more under debris. The Kohinoor Building's 'B' wing gave way while repair work was reportedly ongoing — raising urgent questions about why a flagged-hazard structure still had residents inside.
Key Takeaways
The Kohinoor Building in Balaji Nagar, Bhiwandi partially collapsed at approximately 11:30 p.m. on 30 July .
The death toll has risen to nine , with rescue operations still ongoing as of 31 July .
The four-storey building had 48 rooms and had previously been declared dangerous by the local civic body.
Repair work was reportedly being carried out on the building's pillars at the time of the collapse.
NDRF and SDRF teams are conducting debris clearance; authorities fear more people may be trapped.
President Droupadi Murmu and Vice-President C.
Radhakrishnan offered condolences and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.
The death toll in the Bhiwandi building collapse in Maharashtra's Thane district climbed to nine on Friday, 31 July, as rescue teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) continued pulling bodies from the debris of the partially collapsed Kohinoor Building in Balaji Nagar. President Droupadi Murmu and Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan both expressed grief and condolences to the bereaved families.
What Happened
The tragedy unfolded late on Thursday night, 30 July, when the 'B' wing of the four-storey Kohinoor Building — which housed 48 rooms, 12 on each floor — suddenly gave way while repair work was reportedly in progress on its pillars. Officials said the collapse occurred at approximately 11:30 p.m.
Residents had received an early warning: at around 9 p.m., loud cracking sounds from the structure prompted locals to begin evacuating families. However, the building collapsed before all occupants could exit, trapping several people under tonnes of rubble and triggering a large-scale emergency response. Critically, the building had previously been declared dangerous by the local civic body, raising immediate questions about why it remained occupied.
Survivors Recount the Night
Survivor Deepak Kumar Yadav described the harrowing moments: 'Repair work was being carried out on the pillars of a nearby building. After dinner, we went to sleep when we suddenly heard a loud sound of the collapsing building. When we rushed out, there was chaos everywhere. I jumped from the first floor to save my life.'
Neha Singh, who was searching for her missing husband Ranjeet Singh, said he had gone downstairs barely 10 minutes before the collapse and had not answered his phone since. Another resident, Sangeeta Prajapati, said she sustained injuries while attempting to flee from the parking area as the structure came down around her.
Survivor Abhay Kumar Yadav recounted jumping from the first floor and suffering a leg fracture. He estimated there were 25 to 30 people inside the building at the time of the collapse.
Rescue Operations Under Way
Teams from both the NDRF and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) were deployed to the site immediately after the incident was reported. Debris clearance, aided by JCB machines and other heavy equipment, continued through the night. Officials acknowledged that darkness and the sheer volume of debris hampered rescue efforts, but said teams remained fully engaged.
Authorities fear that more people may still be trapped beneath the rubble, and rescue operations were ongoing as of Friday.
President and Vice-President Condole
President Droupadi Murmu, posting on her official social media platform X, said: 'The news of the loss of lives in the building collapse in Maharashtra's Bhiwandi is deeply saddening. I express my condolences to the bereaved families. I wish a speedy recovery to those injured in this accident.'
Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan also expressed sorrow, stating: 'Deeply saddened by the loss of lives due to the collapse of a building in Thane area of Bhiwandi in Maharashtra. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. I pray for the swift recovery of those injured.'
What Comes Next
With the building having been previously flagged as dangerous by civic authorities, accountability questions are expected to intensify as rescue operations conclude. The focus will shift to how a structure with a known hazard designation continued to house residents — and whether the repair work under way at the time of the collapse was authorised. The final death toll may rise as debris clearance progresses.
Point of View
Yet it remained occupied and was reportedly undergoing repair work at the time of the collapse. That sequence of events points to a systemic breakdown: hazard notices issued but not acted upon, residents left with nowhere to go, and oversight mechanisms that exist on paper but not in practice. Maharashtra has seen multiple such collapses in recent years, particularly in Thane and its satellite towns where ageing, informally expanded structures house migrant workers. Until civic bodies are held accountable for following through on their own hazard declarations — not just issuing them — the death toll from the next collapse is already being written.
NationPress
31 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What caused the Bhiwandi building collapse on 30 July?
The 'B' wing of the four-storey Kohinoor Building in Balaji Nagar, Bhiwandi, collapsed at around 11:30 p.m. on 30 July while repair work was reportedly being carried out on its pillars. The building had previously been declared dangerous by the local civic body, and residents had heard loud cracking sounds from the structure as early as 9 p.m. that night.
How many people have died in the Bhiwandi building collapse?
The death toll has risen to nine, according to the NDRF, with rescue teams recovering bodies from the debris as of 31 July. Authorities have warned the toll may rise further as debris clearance continues.
Who is conducting the rescue operations in Bhiwandi?
Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) are leading rescue operations, assisted by JCB machines and other heavy equipment. Operations continued through the night, with officials noting that darkness and debris volume have hampered efforts.
Why was the Kohinoor Building still occupied if it had been declared dangerous?
The building had been declared dangerous by the local civic body, but residents were still living there at the time of the collapse. Accountability questions around enforcement of the hazard notice are expected to intensify as rescue operations conclude and an investigation begins.
What did President Murmu and Vice-President Radhakrishnan say about the collapse?
President Droupadi Murmu, posting on X, called the incident 'deeply saddening' and expressed condolences to bereaved families while wishing a speedy recovery to the injured. Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan similarly said he was 'deeply saddened' and offered his 'heartfelt condolences' to the families affected.
