July 18, 2025 – A three-storey chawl came down early this morning in Bandra East, Mumbai. It happened around 6 am in the Bharat Nagar area, near the Namaj Committee Masjid. Officials say a cylinder blast might have caused it, trapping people under the rubble. Rescue teams pulled out over 10 folks so far, but some were still stuck as operations went on. No one has died yet, but injuries are reported.
The building was a ground-plus-two structure that fully gave way. It left debris everywhere and even damaged a nearby mosque. Fire brigade and police rushed to the spot to help. They think the second and third floors were built without proper permissions, which could have made things worse.
What Led to the Collapse
Eyewitnesses heard a big blast before the chawl fell. Mumbai police point to a possible cylinder explosion inside one of the rooms. That set off the chain reaction, bringing down the upper floors. A local who saw it said the blast reason isn’t fully confirmed yet, but it shook the area hard. The mosque next door got some damage too, though not too bad.
Rescue folks from the Mumbai Fire Brigade confirmed it as a Level-II emergency. They brought in fire engines, ambulances, and teams from MHADA and PWD to dig through the mess. The work started right away and kept going through the morning.
Injuries and Rescues So Far
At least 12 people got hurt in the collapse. That includes an eight-year-old boy named Mohamed Lareb Irfan and two older folks, Rehana Ansari, 65, and Mohd Ansari, 68. The seniors have bad burns, about 50 percent, and were moved to KEM Hospital for better care. Others like Mustafa Ibrahim Sayyed, 57, and Shabana Mustafa Sayyed, 42, went to Bhabha Municipal General Hospital. Their conditions are stable now.
Teams rescued most of them quickly. An official said around 15 were thought to be trapped at first, but they got 12 out. Two more were being pulled free as reports came in. No deaths so far, which is a relief amid the chaos.
Response and What’s Next
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation sent help fast, including a rescue van and water tankers. Mumbai Police and other groups are on site to keep things under control. They’ve cleared some debris and are checking for anyone else stuck.
This isn’t the first time old buildings in Mumbai have issues like this. The chawl had people living on those upper floors, mostly families. Officials will look into why it happened and if rules were broken. For now, the focus is on getting everyone safe and clearing the area.
People in the neighborhood are shaken, but help is pouring in. Updates should come as the day goes on, with hopes no more bad news hits.
