23 April,2026 08:18 AM IST | Mumbai | Abhitash Singh
The collapsed slab from Flat No. 502 that crashed into the apartment below at Woodland Cooperative Housing Society. Pics/Abhitash Singh
Dinner was on the stove, and within seconds, a loud crash turned a routine evening into a night of fear and displacement for over 20 families at Woodland Cooperative Housing Society. At around 7.15 pm on Tuesday, a slab from Flat No. 502 gave way and crashed into Flat No. 402, triggering panic among residents. The building is 30 years old.
"I was in the kitchen cooking⦠suddenly there was a deafening noise. The slab fell in the hall. Thankfully, no one was there," said the resident of Flat No. 402.
While no injuries were reported, the incident left residents shaken and worried about belongings left inside.
"Now I am only thinking - where are my husband's documents? Will we even be able to get them back?" the resident added.
Emergency response vehicle at the site reaches the spot after the slab collapse incident
NMMC ward officer Dr Anuradha Babar said, "The building has been sealed as a precaution. Debris removal will be followed by a detailed structural audit. Further decisions will be taken based on safety assessment." Local corporator Suraj Patil coordinated the emergency response, while Mayor Sujata Patil directed officials to take urgent action.
Residents were forced to leave immediately, scrambling to find temporary shelter.
>> Families shifting to relatives in Vashi, Mulund, Ulwe, and Mazgaon
>> Several residents are still waiting outside the building
>> Emergency relocation ongoing
Rescue officials at Woodland Cooperative Housing Society following the incident that led to the building being declared unsafe
"For now, the only priority is to find a roof," said society chairman Manoj Datkhile. "People have no option but to shift immediately," he added.
Secretary Mukund Kudva said, "The building just completed 30 years in March. We had done a structural audit. Now we are told to vacate. I will go to a relative's place⦠but how long?"
A sixth-floor resident, who had earlier experienced a ceiling collapse and temporarily shifted out, returned after hearing of the incident. "We are senior citizens. Our daughter is in Delhi. We have to manage everything ourselves. It is frightening," she said. Another resident added, "Everything - documents and all important belongings - is inside. And we are not allowed to enter."
Within hours, officials from the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC), along with the fire brigade and police, inspected the building and ordered a complete evacuation.
Residents claimed there were earlier indications of structural issues. "Earlier, ceiling portions had fallen. Funds were collected for repairs, but nothing concrete happened," said a society member on condition of anonymity.
