A family living in Mumbai's New Mandala area had planned to move out of their home just a day before a building collapse claimed their lives, after noticing warning signs in an adjoining structure during continuous rainfall. Akhtar Jahan, her husband Moinuddin Wajid Ali Shah and their four children were preparing to leave the area on Sunday, but tragedy struck on Saturday night when the unstable four-storey structure next to their tin-sheet house collapsed onto their home. The incident occurred in Janata Nagar, Mandala, Mankhurd, following heavy rains across the city.

According to neighbours, the adjoining building had shown visible signs of distress before the collapse. Cracks had reportedly developed on the structure, tiles had started falling and the building had tilted, causing fear among residents. Several families living inside the building had begun moving out after suspecting that it could collapse due to prolonged rainfall. Neighbours said Jahan was also packing belongings and preparing to vacate the house when the structure suddenly gave way, leaving little time for the family to escape.

Moinuddin survived because he had stepped outside shortly before the collapse and said he had already informed his family that they would shift the next day. However, before the move could happen, the neighbouring building fell onto their residence, trapping the occupants under the debris. While residents of the damaged structure managed to escape after noticing the danger, the collapse caused fatalities in the nearby homes. Emergency teams later recovered the bodies of the victims during rescue operations.

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The Mumbai Fire Brigade, police personnel, civic officials and other disaster response teams carried out overnight rescue operations at the site. Authorities removed debris and searched for survivors as concerns remained over the safety of surrounding structures. Police have arrested the owner of the collapsed building and the contractor allegedly involved in its construction. A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including provisions related to culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

Civic officials said the collapsed building was unauthorised, and investigators are examining whether illegal construction practices and violations of safety regulations contributed to the disaster. The incident has again raised concerns over the safety of vulnerable structures in Mumbai, particularly during periods of intense rainfall. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced an ex gratia assistance of Rs 5 lakh each for the families of those who lost their lives, while authorities continue their investigation into the circumstances behind the collapse.

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