A five-storey building collapsed in Maharahstra’s Raigad district on Monday with over 50 people feared to be trapped under the debris, officials said. One person was killed while 25 so far have been rescued from the debris. The incident took place in Mahad city of Raigad district, around 170 kilometres from Mumbai.

The ‘Tariq garden’ building, according to local residents, collapsed at around 6 pm. Police officials from Mahad, Shrivardhan and Mangaon divisions of Raigad have rushed to the spot and are carrying out rescue operations along with NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) teams.

The multi-storey building, which was 10 years old, housed over 40 apartments. A few people rushed outside the building to a safe spot after the first three floors collapsed, according to Nidhi Chaudhari, the Raigad district collector.

“Initially the top three floors of the building collapsed when some people came out. We have been able to bring out 15 persons. The injured have been sent to government hospital,” Choudhari said on a phone call.  

Watch | Maharashtra: building collapse in Raigad district, over 60 trapped; NDRF rushed

Raigad district guardian minister Aditi Tatkare said the local administration is trying to get exact information about how many were inside when the building collapsed. “As per my information, there were 47 flats in the building which housed around 150 people. How many were inside the building when it collapsed is still unknown,” Tatkare said.

“We have already initiated the evacuation work with earth moving machines. In the initial first two hours, we were able to bring out 25 persons,” said Manikrao Jajtap, former MLA of Mahad.

Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray spoke to Shiv Sena legislator Bharat Gogawale and Raigad district collector Nidhi Choudhari regarding the building collapse mishap. Extending support, the chief minister directed the collector to speed up relief and rehabilitation work.

The state government has not yet ordered any probe into the incident. However, senior Nationalist Congress Party leader and Raigad Lok Sabha MP, Sunil Tatkare said that a probe could be initiated in future.

“Heavy monsoon is not new to Mahad and Raigad district, therefore the building constructed there, the design and its construction will have to be probed in the near future. Action would be taken against whoever is found guilty. But the priority now is relief and rehabilitation. We have to take to the injured to non-Covid hospitals,” Tatkare told news channels.

Former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union home minister Amit Shah expressed shock over the incident. “Shocked to hear about the building collapse incident at Mahad (Raigad) where many are feared trapped,” Fadnavis said in a tweet.

Shah tweeted: “The collapse of a building in Raigad, Maharashtra is very tragic. Have spoken to DG @NDRFHQ to provide all possible assistance, teams are on the way and will be assisting with the rescue operations as soon as possible. Praying for everyone’s safety.”

Several parts of Maharashtra are witnessing flood-like situations due to heavy downpour in the state. Many regions have reported incidents of house collapse. During the monsoon season in India, old structures are at a high risk of collapsing, with many lives at stake.

Earlier today, a 50-year-old house collapsed in Maharashtra’s Nagpur city, killing one and injuring four others. The ground-plus-one-storey house, located in Sadar’s Azad Chowk, collapsed around 4.40 am on Monday, according to officials.

Five people were rescued from the debris and rushed to the hospital, where a 43-year-old man was declared brought dead.

(with inputs from Swapnil Rawal)