NHRC, India takes suo motu cognizance of the reported death of 17 people in a building collapse incident in Virar East area of Palghar district, Maharashtra

Press release

National Human Rights Commission

New Delhi: 3rd September, 2025

NHRC, India takes suo motu cognizance of the reported death of 17 people in a building collapse incident in Virar East area of Palghar district, Maharashtra

Issues notices to the Chief Secretary and the DGP, Maharashtra

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that 17 people died and 8 were injured when a portion of a four-storey apartment collapsed in the Virar East area of Palghar district, Maharashtra on 27th August, 2025. Reportedly, the building was unauthorised and constructed more than a decade back. However, the residents were paying taxes to the Vasai-Virar City Municipal Corporation (VVCMC), believing that the building was authorised as per the notarised documents.

The Commission has observed that the contents of the media report, if true, raise serious issues of violation of human rights. Therefore, it has issued notices to the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police, Maharashtra, calling for a detailed report on the matter within two weeks.

According to the media report, carried on 28th August, 2025, a senior officer of the VVCMC has stated that the building might have collapsed due to the use of inferior quality construction material. The residents were sent three notices to vacate the building, but all the warnings were ignored. Reportedly, the building had around 50 flats and half a dozen shops; of which the rear side of the building, comprising around 12 flats, collapsed.

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