01 August,2026 08:47 AM IST | Mumbai | Aishwarya Iyer
Ashwin Verma (centre, in yellow) with the friends who joined him in rescuing residents from the Bhiwandi building after it began shaking during repair work. Pics/By Special Arrangement
Curiosity turned into a life-saving rescue mission for 30-year-old Ashwin Verma, popularly known as âMallu Bhai', and his group of friends after they noticed repair work underway at the four-storey Kohinoor Building in Bhiwandi on Thursday night.
The group had gone to see what work was being carried out when they noticed labourers repairing damaged pillars. Within minutes, the building began shaking, prompting them to launch an impromptu evacuation that residents say saved hundreds of lives before a portion of the structure collapsed. Ten people died in the incident.
Ashwin Verma (Mallu Bhai)
Verma said he and his friends had been watching the repair work for the past three days. "We had gone there to check what work was going on. We saw the labourers carrying out repairs on the pillars. Out of the three damaged pillars, two had already been broken. They had been working on them for the last three days. We kept telling them that pillars are the foundation of the building and breaking them could lead to a mishap."
"That was the final blow. The building started shaking, so I immediately called my friends. We had ladders and whatever equipment we could arrange. People had already started jumping from the upper floors. Those who couldn't jump, we helped them climb down using the ladders. We also rescued two labourers who were inside the building."
>> According to Verma, the building had 40 to 60 rooms and housed around 250 to 300 residents.
>> His team helped evacuate people from both sections of the building before shifting them to a nearby community hall.
>> "There were nearly 300 residents. We shifted everyone we could to a nearby community hall."
Residents staying at the community hall credited Verma and his friends for saving their lives.
"Mallu Bhai ne sab kiya."
"Mallu Bhai nahi hote toh kya karte hum?"
"Mallu Bhai bhaagkar aaye."
"Mallu Bhai ki wajah se aaj hamare paas chhat aur khana hai."
>> Verma, who works at a powerloom unit and also runs a battery business, said helping families was more important than blaming anyone.
>> "All I want is the safety of my people. This is not the time to sit and blame anyone over the repair notices or the work that was going on. What has happened has happened. Now we should focus on what needs to be done next."
>> He said he informed local MLA Mahesh Choughule, after which ambulances and other emergency assistance were arranged. Food and drinking water have also been provided to families staying at the community hall.
>> "Some families have gone to stay with relatives, while others are in hospitals. But if anyone needs me, I'll be there to help."
