Mumbai : At least seven people, including three children, were killed and seven others injured after a landslide struck a residential area in Mumbai’s Ghatkopar following heavy rainfall on Wednesday.
According to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials, the incident occurred at around 3:48 a.m. at Gausiya Chawl in Ashok Nagar, Chirag Nagar, Ghatkopar. A portion of the hillside, along with a large amount of debris, reportedly collapsed onto two to three houses, causing significant damage and casualties.
The injured and victims were taken to nearby BMC-run hospitals for treatment and medical examination.
Seven People Declared Dead
Seven people were declared dead at Rajawadi Hospital in Ghatkopar.
The deceased have been identified as:
- Mohammed Sameer Ansari, 14
- Sahil Hussain Abdul Qazi, 19
- Aban Arif Sheikh, 2
- Mannat Arif Sheikh, 4
- Marjina Arif Sheikh, 27
- Viket Ramesh Yadav, 27
- One deceased person whose identity is yet to be established.
The incident claimed the lives of three children, making the tragedy particularly devastating for the affected families.
Seven Injured, Condition Reported Stable
Several people injured in the landslide were shifted to BMC-run hospitals.
Farana Dilbar Khan, 28, Dilbar Amanullah Khan, 38, and Shamim Muslim Khan, 26, were admitted to Rajawadi Hospital. Their condition was reported to be stable.
Four other injured persons—Sohel Ansari, 18, Mohammed Ansari, 14, Naeemuddin Iqbal Khan, 28, and Sajid Ansari, 16—were admitted to Bhabha Hospital in Kurla. Their condition was also reported to be stable.
Rescue Operation Underway
Following the incident, teams from the Mumbai Fire Brigade, Mumbai Police, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), ambulance services and BMC ward staff were deployed at the site.
Search and rescue operations continued as emergency personnel worked to clear the debris and determine whether anyone else could be trapped underneath.
The rescue operation has been particularly challenging because of the extremely narrow lanes leading to the affected area.
According to officials, some lanes are only around three to three-and-a-half feet wide, leaving barely enough space for a single person to pass through. Two people reportedly cannot stand side-by-side in several sections.
Because heavy machinery cannot easily reach the site, debris is being removed using a ‘Raker’ or crane-like equipment, followed by manual removal with buckets.
Mayor Visits Accident Site
Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde visited the affected area and reviewed the ongoing search and rescue operation.
She also met the families of the victims and offered condolences.
The mayor announced immediate financial assistance of ₹4 lakh to the next of kin of each deceased person. She also announced ₹50,000 for the medical treatment of each injured person.
Tawde directed the agencies involved in the rescue operation to accelerate their efforts and maintain close coordination to ensure that the search and rescue operation continues effectively.
BMC Had Issued Landslide Warnings
The BMC said it regularly alerts residents living in areas vulnerable to landslides and rockfall, advising them to evacuate or relocate to safer locations when necessary.
The civic body said that residents living around Tekdi No. 3 in Ashok Nagar, Ghatkopar, had previously been warned about the potential risk of landslides. Awareness campaigns had also reportedly been conducted in the area.
The latest incident has once again highlighted the risks faced by residents living in vulnerable hillside settlements during periods of intense rainfall.
Chief Minister Fadnavis Expresses Grief
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed deep sorrow over the incident.
Fadnavis described the landslide at Gausiya Chawl in Ghatkopar as deeply distressing and said that the authorities were informed soon after the incident, following which rescue teams were immediately dispatched to the site.
He said that people trapped under the debris were being searched for and that those injured had been shifted to hospitals for treatment.
The Chief Minister expressed his condolences to the families who lost their loved ones and paid tribute to those who died in the tragedy.
Rescue Efforts Continue Amid Challenging Conditions
The combination of heavy rainfall, unstable hillside terrain and extremely narrow access routes has made the rescue operation difficult.
Emergency teams continue to remove debris and search the affected structures. Authorities are also monitoring the surrounding area for any further risk of landslides or rockfall.
Officials are expected to assess the structural condition of nearby houses and the safety of residents in the vulnerable zone as the rescue operation progresses.
The incident has raised fresh concerns over landslide preparedness, hillside settlements and monsoon-related risks in Mumbai, particularly in densely populated areas located near vulnerable slopes.
