A slab collapse inside a residential building in Thane’s Wagle Estate early Tuesday triggered panic among residents, leaving three people injured and forcing the evacuation of nearly 90 occupants. Authorities have sealed the 30–35-year-old structure, which had already been marked as a dangerous building under the civic body’s C2B category.
Early morning collapse sparks panic
The incident took place around 3:07 am on February 17 at Nutan Neelam Apartment, located near Hanuman Mandir in Shantinagar. According to officials from the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC), the Disaster Management Room received an alert from the Wagle Fire Station about a slab collapse inside the building.
Preliminary information suggests that a slab from a room on the fifth floor of A Wing gave way and crashed onto a room directly below on the fourth floor. The sudden collapse jolted residents awake, creating chaos in the building during the early hours.
Three residents injured, one critical
Three residents sustained injuries in the incident. Gajendra Prasad (60), one of the flat owners, suffered a fracture in his right shoulder along with multiple injuries. Prince Yadav (25) sustained a fracture in his right leg, while Pradeep Yadav (23) suffered serious injuries to both legs and other parts of his body.
All three were immediately shifted by TMC ambulances to Matoshree Gangubai Sambhaji Shinde Hospital in Thane for treatment. Due to the severity of his condition, Pradeep Yadav was later transferred to Fortis Hospital in Bhandup for advanced medical care. Officials confirmed that he was critically injured but receiving treatment.
Authorities rush to spot, building sealed
Soon after the alert, multiple emergency teams rushed to the site. Senior civic officials, disaster management personnel, fire brigade teams, construction department staff, police officials and Mahavitaran representatives reached the building to assess the situation.
Fire and rescue vehicles were deployed to check for any further structural risks and ensure no one remained trapped. After inspection, authorities decided to evacuate both Wing A and Wing B of the apartment as a precaution.
The building comprises a ground floor plus five storeys and around 26 rooms. Officials said it had already been classified under the C2B category, indicating a structurally dangerous building that requires major repairs or evacuation.
Nearly 90 residents moved to temporary shelter
With safety concerns mounting, authorities evacuated approximately 85 to 95 residents from the building. The displaced families have been temporarily shifted to Thane Municipal Corporation School No. 38 in Shantinagar.
Civic officials stated that the building has been sealed until further structural assessment is completed. The TMC’s Construction Department will now examine the structure in detail and decide the next course of action, including possible repairs or demolition.
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Second slab collapse in region raises concerns
The Thane incident comes just days after a slab collapse linked to Mumbai Metro Line-4 construction created alarm in the region. While the two incidents are unrelated, back-to-back structural failures have once again raised questions about building safety and the condition of ageing structures across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
Authorities have urged residents living in old and dilapidated buildings to cooperate with civic surveys and relocation measures when required, stressing that safety remains the top priority.
