In a terrifying incident that could have turned into a full-blown tragedy, a four-story residential building in Nalasopara East’s Alkapuri area collapsed just hours after over 200 residents were safely evacuated. The building, named Sairaj Building, was located in Shankar Nagar, close to the busy Station Road.
While no casualties have been reported, the event has shaken the local community and brought attention once again to the issue of poorly maintained and unauthorized construction activities in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
Early Signs of Trouble
It all began late on Friday night, July 4th, when residents noticed something alarming. The Sairaj Building, which is around 15 years old, had started leaning to one side—towards the adjacent Kusum Apartment. Panic quickly spread among the residents and the surrounding area. People feared the worst and began alerting the municipal authorities.
Responding swiftly to distress calls, teams from the Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation (VVMC) reached the site. Engineers and officials assessed the situation and immediately issued evacuation orders. However, many families initially hesitated. Leaving their homes, belongings, and memories behind wasn’t easy. Some feared that once evacuated, they might not be allowed to return, or worse, be rendered homeless.
Complete Evacuation Just in Time
Despite the initial resistance, authorities, with the help of local police personnel, managed to convince all 20 families residing in the building to evacuate. By 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 5th, the last residents were safely moved out. Arrangements were made for their temporary stay at nearby municipal facilities and community halls.
In a chilling twist of fate, just a few hours later—at around 3 p.m.—the building gave way and collapsed entirely. Witnesses described it as a loud, thunderous sound, followed by a cloud of dust. Thankfully, no one was inside when the structure came down, avoiding what could have been a catastrophic loss of lives.
What Caused the Collapse?
Preliminary investigations have revealed that the building had already been declared dilapidated by the Vasai-Virar civic body. In fact, an official evacuation notice had been issued earlier, before the onset of the monsoon season. Residents were warned, but many stayed on, hoping that some repair work would make the building livable again.
The problem started when residents, in a bid to repair the building collectively, hired a private contractor. This contractor allegedly tampered with one of the building’s main structural pillars—located inside a shop on the ground floor. It’s believed that this unauthorized work compromised the structural integrity of the entire building, leading to its eventual collapse.
VVMC engineers stated that Sairaj Building was a load-bearing structure, and tampering with any of the support pillars without proper engineering oversight is highly dangerous.
Evacuation of Neighboring Buildings
The collapse didn’t just affect the Sairaj Building. The adjacent Kusum Apartment was severely damaged in the fall. Fearing further instability, the administration also evacuated that building and three other nearby buildings as a safety measure.
In total, nearly 150 families have been displaced. Most of them have had to leave their homes suddenly, without even having time to gather their essential belongings. For many, the fear and uncertainty remain high, as they don’t know when or if they’ll be able to return.
Emergency shelters have been set up at local schools, halls, and municipal spaces. Authorities are working round the clock to support those affected. Food, water, and basic medical assistance are being provided to evacuees.
Fire Brigade and Police Still on Site
As of Sunday morning, fire brigade teams, municipal engineers, and police personnel are still present at the site. They are keeping a close watch on the remaining nearby buildings and managing the safety perimeter to prevent any unauthorized entry.
Retrieving belongings from the affected buildings is currently out of the question. With debris scattered around and possible further collapses feared, no one is being allowed near the danger zone. Residents are anxious, many left with just the clothes they were wearing at the time of the evacuation.
Voices from the Ground
Speaking to reporters, one resident of Sairaj Building shared,
“We had been living here for more than a decade. Yes, we knew the building wasn’t in the best condition, but we didn’t think it would come to this. We were trying to repair it. We never imagined the pillar work would bring it down.”
Another local from the nearby Kusum Apartment added,
“The whole building came down like a house of cards. We saw it happen with our own eyes. If the evacuation hadn’t happened earlier, there would have been many deaths.”
Looking Ahead
Authorities have promised a full investigation into how the repair work was allowed to continue despite the building being declared unsafe. Questions are also being raised about the role of the contractor, whether proper permissions were taken, and whether the VVMC should have taken stricter action sooner.
As for the affected families, their future remains uncertain. Rebuilding lives takes time. Some may receive aid or assistance from the government or local representatives, but for many, the next few weeks will be about survival, coping with displacement, and hoping for justice.
Final Word
This incident in Nalasopara is a harsh reminder of how critical structural safety is, especially in densely populated urban areas. Had the evacuation been delayed even by a few hours, we might have been reporting on a much more tragic event.
Local authorities now face the urgent task of reviewing all similar buildings in the area and ensuring that no other time bombs are ticking silently. For the residents of Shankar Nagar, life has taken a sudden, traumatic turn—and the road to recovery will not be easy.
