71-Year-Old Woman Dies After House Collapses in Vasai West

A 71-year-old woman died early Wednesday morning after the roof of her old house collapsed during heavy rainfall in the Kavdi Bagh area of Rameedi in Vasai West. The deceased, identified as Shashikala Arun Patil, was trapped beneath the debris following the incident on Tuesday evening.

The tragedy occurred in Vasai West, which had been witnessing heavy rainfall throughout the day on Tuesday. According to fire brigade officials, the old structure suddenly collapsed in the evening, trapping Patil underneath the fallen roof and rubble.

Neighbours in the Kavdi Bagh area reported hearing a loud crash on Tuesday evening and immediately rushed to check on Patil. Upon discovering that the roof of her home had caved in and trapped her inside, the residents alerted emergency services.

Personnel from the Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation’s Tamatalao fire station were dispatched to the location after receiving the alert. The rescue team utilized wood-cutting machines and iron crowbars to clear away the heavy material and extricate Patil from the rubble.

“Using wood-cutting machines and iron crowbars, the rescue team successfully extricated her from the rubble,” said Nandkumar Digambar Shingre, a fire official.

Once freed from the collapsed structure, Patil was rushed to the civic-run Sir D M Petit Hospital in Vasai-Virar for urgent medical treatment. However, doctors later declared that she had succumbed to her injuries early on Wednesday morning while undergoing treatment.

Patil was the only person present in the house when the collapse occurred. Her 45-year-old son, who works in Mumbai, was away from home at the time. It was the alert neighbours who heard the loud noise and contacted the emergency services.

Following the incident, the Vasai police registered an accidental death case. Police officials are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the house collapse and are examining whether any negligence led to the fatal event.