Ghatkopar Landslide Death Toll Rises to 8 as Trapped Man Dies in Hospital
The death toll from the landslide at Ashok Nagar, Hill No. 3, in Ghatkopar rose to eight on Thursday after 28-year-old Saddam Wazir Ali Khan died shortly after being rescued. Khan had spent nearly 32 hours trapped beneath a massive boulder before rescue personnel pulled him out from the debris at around 1 pm on Thursday and rushed him to Rajawadi Hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead upon arrival.
The extensive search and rescue operation at the Ashok Nagar site initially began at 5 am on Wednesday immediately following the landslide. Search teams resumed their efforts on Thursday morning amid fears that another person might still be trapped beneath the fallen debris and rubble.
Personnel from the Mumbai Fire Brigade faced severe hurdles throughout the operation. A fire brigade official explained that rescue teams were confronted with significant challenges caused by the area's confined terrain, dense population, and steep mountainous landscape.
The rescue efforts were further hampered by the unstable ground surrounding the affected chawl in the aftermath of the landslide. Access to the immediate disaster site was severely limited by narrow lanes, while huge boulders had piled up directly on top of those that had initially collapsed onto the settlement, creating additional dangers and complications for the rescue personnel.
Because the narrow and mountainous terrain completely prevented the deployment of heavy machinery, emergency workers faced a daunting task to reach Khan. Personnel had to cut through the massive boulders and dense debris manually using hammers and hand tools.
A Mumbai Fire Brigade official stated that the sheer size of the boulders made the operation extremely difficult, requiring emergency crews to painstakingly break through them by hand. The official added that prolonged entrapment under such heavy debris significantly diminished the victim's chances of survival over time.
In addition to the eight casualties, seven individuals who sustained injuries during the landslide are currently undergoing medical treatment. These injured survivors are receiving care at Rajawadi Hospital and Bhabha Hospital in Kurla.
