Ghatkopar landslide kills 2, traps several at Mumbai chawl; NDRF deployed
Synopsis
A pre-dawn landslide tore through a chawl in Mumbai’s Ghatkopar, killing two and leaving several more feared buried under hillside debris. With NDRF, fire brigade, and police racing against time, the incident is a stark reminder of how monsoon-season hillside settlements in the city remain dangerously exposed.
Key Takeaways
A landslide struck Gaushiya Chawl, Chirag Nagar, Ghatkopar at approximately 3:48 a.m. on 12 August .
At least two people were killed; three to four are still feared trapped, according to DCP Ganesh Shinde .
Joint rescue operations are being conducted by the Mumbai Fire Brigade , Mumbai Police , and NDRF .
Sohel Ansari (18) and Mohamad Ansari (14) were hospitalised with injuries and are in stable condition.
Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde and Additional Municipal Commissioner Dr.
Avinash Dhakne visited the site to monitor relief efforts.
Ghatkopar Police will conduct a formal investigation into the incident.
A landslide struck Gaushiya Chawl in Chirag Nagar, Ghatkopar, Mumbai, in the early hours of Wednesday, 12 August, killing at least two people and leaving four to five others feared trapped under debris, according to officials. The incident, which occurred at approximately 3:48 a.m., has prompted a multi-agency rescue operation that remains ongoing.
How the Landslide Unfolded
Preliminary assessments by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Mumbai Fire Brigade indicate that a portion of a nearby hillock gave way, sending debris crashing onto two to three houses within the chawl. Authorities initially feared that five to six people had been trapped in the collapse. The incident unfolded while most residents were asleep, compounding the difficulty of an immediate response.
Rescue Operations and Agencies on Ground
Personnel from the Mumbai Fire Brigade, Mumbai Police, and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are jointly conducting search-and-rescue operations at the site, clearing debris in a bid to locate survivors. Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde and Additional Municipal Commissioner (Eastern Suburbs) Dr. Avinash Dhakne visited the affected site to assess conditions and oversee relief efforts.
What Officials Said
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Ganesh Shinde confirmed the two fatalities and said rescue teams were continuing their work. “Rescue operations are underway, with emergency response teams and local authorities continuing their efforts at the site. While we cannot confirm the exact number at this stage, it is suspected that three to four people may still be trapped beneath the debris,” Shinde told reporters. He added that the bodies of the deceased have been sent to a hospital for further procedures, and that the Ghatkopar Police will conduct a detailed investigation into the incident.
Injured Residents Hospitalised
Two injured survivors have been admitted to hospital. They were identified as Sohel Ansari, 18, who sustained a head injury, and Mohamad Ansari, 14, who suffered a back injury. Both are reported to be in stable condition, according to officials.
What Comes Next
Debris-clearing operations are continuing as rescue teams search for anyone still trapped. This comes amid Mumbai’s active monsoon season, which has historically made low-lying and hillside settlements in areas like Ghatkopar vulnerable to landslides and structural collapses. Authorities are expected to release further details as the rescue operation progresses.
Point of View
Mumbai’s hillside chawls make headlines for the same reason — and yet the cycle of disaster, rescue, and inaction repeats. Ghatkopar’s Chirag Nagar is not an anomaly; it is a pattern. The city’s informal settlements on or near hillocks remain structurally exposed because land-use enforcement and pre-monsoon structural audits have not kept pace with population density. The presence of senior civic officials at the site is welcome, but the accountability question is harder: why were residents still living beneath an unstable hillock? Until Mumbai’s disaster-risk mapping translates into enforceable relocation policy, these tragedies will keep recurring.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in Ghatkopar on 12 August?
A landslide struck Gaushiya Chawl in Chirag Nagar, Ghatkopar, Mumbai at around 3:48 a.m. on 12 August, when a portion of a hillock collapsed onto two to three houses. At least two people were killed and several others are feared trapped under the debris.
How many people are trapped in the Ghatkopar landslide?
According to DCP Ganesh Shinde, it is suspected that three to four people may still be trapped beneath the debris, though authorities said the exact number could not be confirmed at the time of the statement.
Which agencies are conducting the rescue operation?
The rescue operation is being jointly carried out by the Mumbai Fire Brigade, Mumbai Police, and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde and Additional Municipal Commissioner Dr. Avinash Dhakne have also visited the site to oversee efforts.
Who were the injured survivors taken to hospital?
Two survivors — Sohel Ansari, 18, with a head injury, and Mohamad Ansari, 14, with a back injury — were hospitalised following the landslide. Both are reported to be in stable condition.
Why are areas like Ghatkopar prone to landslides during the monsoon?
Hillside and low-lying informal settlements in Mumbai, including parts of Ghatkopar, are particularly vulnerable during the monsoon season due to waterlogged soil, steep slopes, and dense construction near hillocks. Heavy rainfall can destabilise hillside soil rapidly, increasing the risk of collapse onto adjacent structures.
