In the wake of the catastrophic collapse of Ramabai Apartment in Virar East, Palghar district, which claimed 17 lives on August 27, the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) has ordered the immediate evacuation of 191 families residing in 37 high-risk buildings classified as C1 (most hazardous). The directive, issued by TMC chief Saurabh Rao on Friday, aims to avert further tragedies amid growing concerns over dilapidated structures in the region.  

During a review meeting, Rao emphasized the urgency of vacating these buildings, stating, “All assistant commissioners must engage with residents to ensure they understand the life-threatening risks of staying in these structures.” Of the 93 C1-category buildings under TMC jurisdiction, 56 have already been vacated, leaving 191 families in the remaining 37. Naupada-Kopri ward has the highest number of such buildings (27), followed by Utalsar (7), Diva (2), and Mumbra (1).  

The Virar collapse, involving an unauthorized 13-year-old structure, exposed systemic issues with illegal constructions and delayed enforcement. The Vasai-Virar City Municipal Corporation (VVCMC) had flagged Ramabai Apartment as unsafe years earlier, yet residents remained until the disaster. The incident, which also injured nine people, prompted the arrest of builder Nital Gopinath Sane for culpable homicide and violations of the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act. 

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TMC’s order clarifies that evacuated residents will retain possession of their properties, addressing fears of permanent displacement. “Residents must have no doubts about their ownership rights,” Rao said. The civic body plans to relocate families to temporary accommodations, such as nearby civic schools or transit camps, while urging repairs for C2A and C2B category buildings, which require significant but less urgent fixes. 

The move follows public outrage over repeated building collapses in the region, including the May 2025 collapse of Pooja Apartment in Virar, where 35-year-old Lakshmi Singh died, and a 2013 Thane collapse that killed 56 people, including 19 children. Critics, including local activists, have long demanded proactive measures like regular structural audits, timely evacuations, and robust relocation plans to prevent such tragedies. 

With monsoon risks looming, TMC is also cutting off water and electricity to C1 and C2A buildings to pressure residents to vacate. The corporation is working to streamline relocation, offering proof-of-residence certificates and exploring legal measures to secure residents’ rights in property records, a step inspired by VVCMC’s response to the Virar tragedy. As Thane grapples with over 4,500 dangerous buildings, the urgency to act before another disaster strikes is clear. 

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