Legal Action Initiated Against Building Owner and Contractor After Bhivandi Collapse

Mumbai, August 1: Legal action has been initiated against the owner and contractor of a four-story building that collapsed in Bhivandi, Maharashtra, on Saturday. The death toll has risen to ten as rescue operations continue.

Authorities have begun legal proceedings against those responsible for the construction and maintenance of the building, which had previously been declared unsafe by local municipal officials.

The building’s owner, Bilal Ahmed Abu Bakar Khan, faces charges for constructing the building without the necessary permits. Additionally, contractor Ashok, who was working on the building’s pillars, is also under investigation.

The complaint was filed by Faisal Abdul Kayyum Tatli, an officer from the Bhivandi-Nizampur Municipal Corporation.

This tragic incident occurred late Thursday night when the building collapsed in the Balaji Nagar area of Bhivandi. Reports indicate that repair work was ongoing at the time, leading to chaos among residents and prompting a large-scale rescue operation involving multiple emergency agencies.

According to the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the death toll increased to nine as more bodies were recovered from the debris. Rescue operations are still underway, with fears that more individuals may be trapped beneath the rubble.

Officials reported that the building collapsed around 11:30 PM on Thursday. It contained 48 rooms, with 12 rooms on each floor. Due to its deteriorating condition, municipal authorities had already classified it as dangerous.

On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his sorrow over the Bhivandi incident and announced financial assistance for the victims’ families.

The Prime Minister stated, “I am deeply saddened to hear about the deaths caused by the building collapse in Thane, Maharashtra. My condolences are with the affected families during this difficult time. I wish for the swift recovery of the injured.”

The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) announced that the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) would provide ₹200,000 to the families of each deceased and ₹50,000 to the injured.