Mumbai Chawl Collapse Horror: 11 Injured, 3 Critical as 3-Storey Building Crashes Down — NDRF, Fire Brigade in Non-Stop Rescue Ops

Mumbai Chawl Collapse Horror: 11 Injured, 3 Critical as 3-Storey Building Crashes Down — NDRF, Fire Brigade in Non-Stop Rescue Ops

Mumbai chawl collapse leaves 11 injured, 3 critical as 3-storey building caves in. Rescue ops underway by NDRF, Fire Brigade. Here’s what we know — timelines, stats, and political response

Mumbai, July 18, 2025 — In a chilling reminder of the city’s fragile infrastructure, a three-storey chawl building in Mumbai’s Dharavi area collapsed on Thursday evening, leaving 11 people injured, including 3 in critical condition, and dozens feared trapped in the debris. The tragic incident occurred around 6:42 PM, shaking the neighborhood as floors suddenly caved in, triggering a massive rescue operation led by NDRF, Mumbai Fire Brigade, and local police teams.

This marks the fifth major structural collapse reported in Mumbai in just the past 7 months, highlighting the city’s urgent need for infrastructure upgrades in ageing residential zones.

ccording to officials from the BMC Disaster Management Cell, the three-storey building — over 75 years old — located near the Kala Killa junction in Dharavi, collapsed partially when its top floor gave way, bringing down the second and ground floors with it.

The structure, part of a larger chawl cluster built during the pre-independence era, had visible cracks and water damage, worsened by Mumbai’s relentless monsoon rainfall over the last 10 days.

“There was a loud thunder-like sound, then the entire front side just collapsed. People screamed, and dust filled the air. We rushed to pull out those trapped,” said Rajiv Bhagat, a local resident who helped rescue a 6-year-old child.

As per the BMC Emergency Operations Center, the incident resulted in:

• 11 people injured
• 3 critically injured (including 2 elderly residents and one child)
• 2 rescued from under debris after a 3-hour effort
• 5 others treated for minor fractures and head injuries

All victims have been rushed to Sion Hospital and KEM Hospital. Doctors confirmed that the 3 critical patients are on ventilator support and under observation.

The rescue operation began within 15 minutes of the collapse, led by:

• 4 fire engines
• 2 ambulances
• Mumbai Police Quick Response Team
• NDRF’s 5th Battalion with 45 personnel
• Sniffer dogs and life detection equipment
• As of 9:00 PM, search operations were still ongoing. At least 2 families are feared missing, and teams are using thermal imaging cameras to detect signs of life under the rubble.

Sources from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) confirmed that the chawl building was:

• Categorized as a C1 (Most Dangerous) structure
• Served multiple eviction and repair notices since 2022
• Residents refused to vacate, citing lack of alternative housing
• A redevelopment proposal was stalled due to legal disputes

Flashback: In June 2024, a similar structure in Kurla East collapsed, killing 9, prompting the BMC to issue fresh advisories to over 360 dilapidated buildings.

The Dharavi area, while globally known as a thriving informal economy hub, is also infamous for its:

• Over 7,500 buildings older than 50 years
• Many structures lacking Occupancy Certificates
• Illegal extensions and overloaded floors
• High-density housing with poor drainage and foundations

A senior engineer from BMC’s Building & Factory department admitted:

“We’re sitting on a structural time bomb in Dharavi and parts of Byculla. Unless redevelopment speeds up, more such collapses are inevitable.”

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has ordered a high-level inquiry into the collapse and instructed the Urban Development Department to submit a preliminary report within 72 hours.

• ₹1 lakh compensation for injured
• ₹5 lakh ex-gratia for families if any fatalities occur
• Temporary rehabilitation at MMRDA transit camps nearby

“We will not spare any negligent official or developer. The safety of our people is non-negotiable. Every old and dangerous building will now be reviewed zone by zone.”

Structural engineers blame:

• Delayed audits of C1 buildings
• Slow redevelopment approvals
• Corrupt builder-lobby nexus
• Lack of tenant consent delaying evacuation

“Mumbai needs a parallel mechanism — like a Building Collapse Task Force — to bypass red tape and immediately evacuate flagged buildings,” says Prof. Ashok Kulkarni, Civil Engineer & Urban Planner.

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