Mumbai, Aug 12 (IANS) At least four people were killed and eight others were rescued after a landslide struck houses in the Chirag Nagar area of Ghatkopar amid heavy rains early on Wednesday, officials said.
Rescue operations remain underway as multiple agencies continue searching the debris for anyone who may still be trapped.
Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde visited the site and took stock of the ongoing rescue and relief operations. She also met affected families and offered condolences to those who lost their loved ones. Tawde directed all agencies at the site to intensify rescue efforts and ensure better coordination during the operation. Additional Municipal Commissioner (Eastern Suburbs), Dr. Avinash Dhakne, and other civic officials were also present.
The Mayor announced immediate financial assistance of Rs 4 lakh to the family of each person who died in the accident and Rs 50,000 for each injured person to support their medical treatment.
According to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Mumbai Fire Brigade, the incident occurred at around 3:48 a.m. at Gaushiya Chawl in Chirag Nagar, Ghatkopar. A portion of a hillock collapsed, sending soil and debris onto two to three houses in Ashok Nagar, Tekdi No. 3.
Officials had initially feared that five to six people were trapped beneath the debris. A senior Mumbai Police official later said that eight people had been rescued, of whom four were declared dead.
The accident site and the route leading to it are extremely narrow, making access difficult for rescue teams. Personnel from the BMC, Mumbai Fire Brigade, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Mumbai Police, ambulance services and other agencies are working together to locate and evacuate people who may remain trapped under the rubble.
Authorities said rescue and relief operations are continuing, while the administration is closely monitoring the situation and coordinating efforts at the site. The landslide comes as Mumbai experiences heavy rainfall, raising concerns over the safety of vulnerable settlements located near hill slopes and other landslide-prone areas.
Earlier reports had put the death toll at two, with four to five people feared trapped. The toll was subsequently reported to have risen to four after the rescue operation progressed.
–IANS
rs/rad