Palghar, Maharashtra: A four-story building in Nalasopara East's Alkapuri area dramatically collapsed like a house of cards on Saturday, narrowly averting a major tragedy thanks to swift administrative action. The collapse, reportedly triggered by tampering with a structural pillar during repair work, led to the immediate evacuation of nearly 150 families from the collapsed building and three adjacent structures.
The incident unfolded late Friday night when the 15-year-old Sairaj building, located in Shankar Nagar, Station Road, began to tilt precariously. Residents and local authorities were thrown into a state of panic. Upon receiving information, Municipal Corporation (Manpa) officials promptly arrived at the scene and began investigations.
Collapsed Sairaj building in Nalasopara East after structural tampering, triggering large-scale evacuations | Photo Credits: Rishab Mandavia
Initially, residents of the building were reluctant to vacate their homes despite being asked to do so. However, by 11 am on Saturday, the Manpa officials along with police assistance successfully evacuated all 20 families residing in the building and arranged for their alternative accommodation. Shortly after the evacuation, around 3 pm, the building suddenly crumbled.
Fortunately, no casualties were reported in the collapse.
According to information, the Sairaj building was a load-bearing structure and had been declared dilapidated by the Municipal Corporation, which had issued an evacuation notice prior to the monsoon season. Despite this, the 20 families living there had pooled money to undertake repair work. The trouble began when a contractor, working on repairs, reportedly tampered with a pillar located inside a ground-floor shop. This caused the building to lean towards the adjacent Kusum Apartment.
The tilting of the building created a fearful atmosphere among residents of both structures. Manpa officials and staff urged them to evacuate, but many impoverished families were hesitant to leave, fearing homelessness. Finally, with the arrival of police forces and Manpa personnel assisting residents, the entire building was emptied.
The collapse significantly damaged Kusum Apartment. In a rapid response, the administration ordered the immediate evacuation of Kusum Apartment and three other neighboring buildings, displacing approximately 150 families. Arrangements have been made for their temporary housing at various locations.
Manpa, police, and fire brigade officials are currently on-site, engaged in operations related to the affected buildings. Many residents were unable to retrieve their belongings from the damaged structures, leading to distress and despair, as retrieving items would have been life-threatening given the precarious condition of the buildings.
This incident highlights a larger issue in Vasai-Virar, where thousands of load-bearing buildings constructed 15 to 20 years ago are reportedly of substandard quality. These structures are now posing significant challenges for both the administration and flat owners. Hundreds of such dilapidated buildings in the city continue to house residents who are living at constant risk.
