A landslide in the Kurla region of Mumbai early Wednesday morning has claimed the lives of seven individuals and left four others injured. The incident occurred at Gaushiya Chawl in Chirag Nagar around 3:48 a.m., as heavy rainfall triggered the collapse of soil and debris onto nearby structures .
Rescue operations are currently underway, with teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on-site. As of 12:45 p.m.,all seven deceased have been recovered and taken to Rajawadi Hospital,where the police are managing post-mortem records.
The deceased have been identified as Sohel Ansari, 18,and Mohamad Ansari, 14,both of whom were transported to the hospital following the landslide . Dr. Vishal, Chief Medical Officer, confirmed that Mohamad was declared dead upon arrival,while Sohel suffered head injuries.
debris fell onto the rooms of the chawl,trapping six to eight individuals beneath the rubble. Rescue efforts are focused on locating one remaining person who is still believed to be trapped.
BMC Mayor Ritu Tawade visited the site shortly after the incident and expressed her condolences to the families affected. She announced a compensation of ₹4 lakh for each family of the deceased and ₹50,000 for those injured . Tawade emphasized need for expedited relief operations,directing all agencies present to coordinate their efforts effectively.
Criticism has emerged regarding the BMC's preparedness for the monsoon season. Mumbai Congress President Varsha Gaikwad accused civic body of negligence,claiming they failed to act on her request made in April for a safety audit of vulnerable areas in Kurla and Ghatkopar. She stated that little progress was made in addressing the risks associated with landslides,demanding accountability for the incident .
“Unfortunately,little work was done on my demand for audit of vulnerable areas and construction of protective walls,” Gaikwad said. She urged that those responsible for the oversight should face strict action .
The landslide caused significant damage, with soil and debris collapsing onto two to three houses in the area. The narrow access routes to the site have complicated rescue efforts, as only one person can pass at time. BMC officials,along with police and fire brigade personnel, are working tirelessly to rescue those trapped .
As part of their pre-monsoon precautions,the BMC had previously issued warnings to residents about the risks of landslides and conducted awareness campaigns in the area. Notices were distributed to alert residents to evacuate high-risk locations.
Despite these warnings, the tragic incident highlights ongoing concerns about effectiveness of the BMC's safety measures. The local administration had previously warned residents at Hill No. 3, Ashok Nagar, about dangers posed by heavy rains and landslides .
As rescue operations continue, the community mourns loss of life and grapples with the aftermath of this devastating event.
