A major rescue operation is underway in Mumbai’s Bandra East after a three-storey residential chawl collapsed early Friday morning, leaving at least 10 people feared trapped under the debris. The incident occurred around 5:56 am in the densely populated Bharat Nagar locality, near Namaj Committee Masjid and close to the bustling Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC), according to civic officials.

The structure, known as Chawl No. 37, was a ground-plus-three-storey building that reportedly housed multiple families. Authorities suspect that the collapse may be linked to structural fatigue worsened by Mumbai’s ongoing monsoon rains.

Seven individuals have been rescued from the rubble so far and rushed to the BMC-run Bhabha Hospital. Medical teams are monitoring their condition closely.

A massive emergency response has been launched, with eight fire engines, ambulances, and rescue vans stationed at the site. Multiple government and private agencies are coordinating efforts to save those still trapped. Teams from the Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB), Mumbai Police, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA), Public Works Department (PWD), and even emergency units from Adani Group have joined the operation. Local building staff have also stepped in to assist rescuers.

Quoting a senior fire official, The Times of India reported: “Search and rescue operations are still ongoing. Further details are awaited as teams continue to comb through the debris.”