Slab collapses in Thane's Vartak Nagar building, nine people including elderly rescued

The slab of a second-floor flat in a residential building in Thane's Vartak Nagar area collapsed on Sunday morning and fell into a flat on the first floor. The building is about 24 years old. Nine people trapped inside, including elderly residents, were brought out safely. Officials said all nine residents were rescued safely.

Officials said an emergency rescue operation had to be launched after the incident, involving the fire brigade, disaster response teams and police. According to the Regional Disaster Management Cell (RDMC), the incident was reported at about 9.07 am. The building is Ganraj Society, located on Pokhran Road No. 1 in Vartak Nagar, Thane West, near the Gajanan Maharaj Math in Shivai Nagar.

The Thane Municipal Corporation said the slab of the hall of Room No. 202 on the second floor came down and landed directly in Room No. 102 on the first floor. The building has four floors above the ground floor and is about 24 years old.

After the slab fell, several people living on the first and second floors were trapped inside. An emergency rescue operation had to be launched at once, with several departments working together.

The rescue was carried out jointly by fire brigade personnel, the Thane Municipal Corporation's disaster management staff, the Thane Disaster Response Force and Vartak Nagar police. Their combined effort brought the nine trapped people out safely.

Several Thane Municipal Corporation officials reached the spot, among them the fire brigade department's deputy commissioner, the divisional fire officer and disaster management staff. Fire brigade teams, disaster relief personnel and Vartak Nagar police were also deployed there.

Two ambulances of the corporation were stationed at the site, along with fire brigade vehicles and other emergency service vehicles. Corporators Parisha Saranaik and Sitaram Rane also visited the spot to take stock of the situation.