Tragic Ceiling Collapse in Navi Mumbai Apartment Claims Young Life, Injures Multiple Students
A devastating incident unfolded in Navi Mumbai on Thursday evening when a ceiling slab collapsed in a ground-floor apartment of the three-storeyed Vidya Bhawan society in Sector 2, Koparkhairane. The tragedy resulted in the death of a 13-year-old boy and left 13 others injured, including young students and their tuition teacher.
Emergency Response and Rescue Operations
According to Purushottam Jadhav, chief fire officer of Vashi, emergency services received a distress call around 5:15 pm reporting the collapse. Rescue teams from Vashi and Koparkhairane fire stations swiftly responded to the scene, where they discovered several students trapped under debris from the tuition classes being conducted in the apartment. The firefighters immediately worked to extricate the victims and transported them to medical facilities via ambulance.
The deceased was identified as Manish Mhase, who was declared brought dead upon arrival at NMMC hospital in Vashi. Among the injured was the tuition teacher, Shamali Chaudhary, aged 53, who is receiving treatment for mental trauma following the harrowing experience.
Building History and Safety Concerns
Bharat Dhande, NMMC ward officer, provided details about the residential building's background. The structure had obtained an occupancy certificate in 1998 and underwent a structural audit approximately five years ago through a private agency, as confirmed by society office-bearers. Interestingly, the society had been preparing for redevelopment, but the process faced delays due to objections from some members.
In response to the incident, NMMC commissioner Dr. Kailas Shinde announced that the building has been completely vacated as a precautionary measure. Temporary accommodation has been arranged for residents at the Annasaheb Patil Cultural Centre in Koparkhairane. Authorities have directed concerned departments to conduct a fresh structural audit of the building to assess its safety and integrity.
Medical Treatment and Injured Victims
Dr. Prashant Jawade, NMMC medical superintendent, clarified that only Manish Mhase and Shamali Chaudhary were brought to NMMC hospital by police. While Manish was pronounced dead, Chaudhary remains under care. The other injured students have been admitted to private hospitals in Koparkhairane for treatment of their wounds.
The injured students range in age from 5 to 15 years old. The list includes:
- Siddhant Gupta (8)
- Prince Soni (11)
- Ayesh (11)
- Kulsum Khan (13)
- Nishika Dhanwade (13)
- Aradhya Borse (13)
- Tanvi Srivastava (7)
- Mani Rudra Patil
- Prince Soni (14)
- Aaradhya Borse (13)
- Devansh Pujari (7)
- Rajdeep Wankhede (10)
- Parth Khairnar (12)
- Rudra Yerulkar (5)
This tragic event has raised serious questions about building safety standards and the oversight of structural audits in residential complexes, particularly those housing educational activities like tuition classes.
