Three people were killed after a building collapsed in the Bhiwandi area of Maharashtra’s Thane district, including a five-year-old girl. Eleven people have also been rescued from the rubble, news agency ANI reported citing Thane Municipal Corporation. Navnath Sawant, 40, Laxmidevi Ravi Mhato, 26, and Sona Mukesh Kori, 5, have been identified as the deceased.

Maharashtra: 3 dead in Bhiwandi building collapse. 11 rescued so far. Further operations underway: Thane Municipal Corporation pic.twitter.com/ZqARD6dDo9

— ANI (@ANI) April 29, 2023

The incident occurred in the Vardhaman compound in Bhiwandi, Thane district, Maharashtra. At around 1.45 am on Saturday (April 29), a ground-plus three-storey structure collapsed, trapping workers on the lower floor and families on the second floor. According to media reports citing officials, approximately 22 residents were believed to be trapped in the building at the time of the incident.

Residents were rescued by Thane Disaster Response Force personnel and taken to the Government Upazila Hospital Bhiwandi for treatment. Rescue operations are being carried out at the scene by Thane Disaster Response Force and National Disaster Response Force personnel.

READ | Building Collapses In Maharashtra’s Bhiwandi, 10 People Feared Trapped

According to a collectorate release, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has announced compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to the kin of the deceased, with the state government covering medical expenses for the injured.

According to the release, the CM has directed officials to ensure proper coordination among all agencies involved in the search and rescue operations.

Officials previously stated that teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), as well as ten fire engines and personnel from various agencies from Bhiwandi and Thane, were involved in the search and rescue operations.

In the presence of Union Minister Kapil Patil, Lok Sabha MP from Bhiwandi, senior officials, including Thane Collector Ashok Shingare, were monitoring the search and rescue operations.