Bandra East Chawl Collapse: 11 Injured, 3 Critical in Early Morning Tragedy at Bharat Nagar

Mumbai – In a tragic incident early Tuesday morning, a three-storey structure at Chawl No. 37 in Bharat Nagar, Bandra East, collapsed, injuring at least 11 residents — three of whom are in critical condition. The collapse occurred at approximately 5:56 AM near the Namaj Committee Masjid in Mumbai’s busy Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) area.

Rescue Operations in Full Swing

Classified as a Level II emergency, the Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB) responded swiftly, deploying two assistant divisional fire officers (ADFOs), five senior station officers, a station officer, five fire engines, rescue vans, and multiple 108 ambulance services.

Agencies including the Mumbai Police, MHADA, Public Works Department (PWD), Adani Electricity, and local building authorities rushed to the site to support rescue and relief efforts. Initial reports suggest that 10 to 12 people were trapped when the floor of the chawl caved in.
 

Injured Shifted to Hospitals; Three Critical

All 11 victims were rescued and immediately shifted to nearby hospitals. Among the injured, eight-year-old Mohd Lareb Irfan, 65-year-old Rehana Ansari, and 68-year-old Mohd Ansari sustained critical injuries, reportedly with over 50% trauma, and are undergoing intensive treatment.

The remaining eight residents — belonging to the Sayyed and Khan families — are reported to be in stable condition. They include:

• Mustafa Ibrahim Sayyed (57)
• Shabana Mustafa Sayyed (42)
• Noori Irfan Khan (35)
• Mohd Irfan Khan (50)
• Abdul Rehman Irfan Khan (22)
• Alfiya Mustafa Sayyed (18)
• Aliya Mustaq Sayyed (16)
• Jaffar Jamal Khan (80)
  
   

Investigation Underway
 

While the exact cause of the collapse is yet to be confirmed, preliminary suspicion points to structural weaknesses in the decades-old building. MHADA officials are expected to carry out a detailed audit of nearby chawls to prevent similar tragedies.

A senior civic official stated, “We are assessing the building’s age, maintenance history, and past structural audits. Priority right now is ensuring the safety of nearby residents and securing the collapse site.”

 

Growing Concerns Over Chawl Safety
 

This incident has once again highlighted the precarious state of many old chawls and cessed buildings in Mumbai. With the monsoon season in full swing, urban safety experts are calling for urgent action on building audits and evacuations wherever necessary.

Civic activist groups have long warned about delayed redevelopment in densely populated chawl regions like Bandra, Kurla, and Byculla. The Prabhadevi ROB demolition issue and ongoing concerns over unsafe housing structures across the city underscore the pressing need for faster infrastructure renewal.
 

Government Response Expected
 

As of now, no official compensation announcement has been made. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and MHADA are expected to issue a statement regarding relief and rehabilitation measures for the affected families.

The city awaits a deeper investigation and a more robust policy on preemptive evacuations and timely redevelopment of aging structures.