Nine dead, several feared trapped after four-storey building collapses in Maharashtra's Bhiwandi

At least nine people were killed and several others feared trapped after a four-storey residential building collapsed in Maharashtra's Bhiwandi late on Thursday night, triggering a massive multi-agency rescue operation.

A portion of the Kohinoor Building in Balaji Nagar, in the powerloom town of Bhiwandi in Thane district, came crashing down around 11.30 pm, officials said.

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The death toll in the Bhiwandi building collapse has risen to nine, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) said on Friday, as rescue teams continued combing through the debris of the four-storey Kohinoor Building in Thane district

Rescue teams also pulled out an injured minor from the debris, who was rushed to a nearby medical facility for treatment.

Authorities said six to seven people are still believed to be trapped under the rubble as search and rescue operations continue.

According to municipal officials, the building comprised 48 rooms, with 12 on each of its four floors. The structure had already been declared dangerous by the civic body, and repair work was underway when the collapse occurred.

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Residents reportedly heard "loud cracking sounds" from the building around 9 pm on Thursday, prompting fears that it could give way.

"Fearing the worst, locals immediately helped evacuate many families to other locations. However, while some occupants were still making their way out, the 'B' wing of the building caved in," an official said.

Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Thane Disaster Response Force and the local fire brigade are leading the rescue effort. A dog squad, four fire engines, two ambulances and heavy earth-moving machinery have also been deployed to search for survivors beneath the debris.