Civic lapse led to Thane building collapse, was wrongly classified as repairable

A wrong civic classification allegedly delayed evacuation before the Kohinoor Building collapse in Bhiwandi killed 10 people. The case has triggered re-audits and scrutiny of officials over false or negligent safety assessments.Ten people were killed after an old building collapsed in Bhiwandi, Thane, a few days ago.A critical administrative lapse in classifying a dangerous building may have led to the collapse of a four-storey structure in Thane's Bhiwandi that killed 10 people, top civic sources told news agency PTI. A portion of the Kohinoor Building in Balaji Nagar crashed on the night of July 30, also injuring three people.According to a senior official of the Bhiwandi Nizampur City Municipal Corporation (BNCMC), the building was wrongly classified by the local ward officer, delaying the safety steps that should have been followed. The error meant residents were not immediately forced to leave, while repair work was later started without civic permission.The Kohinoor Building had 48 rooms, with 12 on each floor. In an official list published on May 12, 2026, the building in civic ward 04 was placed in Category "C2B", meant for structural repairs without eviction. In the same ward, 55 buildings were listed under "C-1" for the most dangerous structures requiring eviction, 164 under "C2A" for repairs requiring partial eviction, and 107 under "C2B".The official said the wrong classification did not require immediate evacuation and allowed residents to continue staying in the building. A contractor then began repair work without obtaining permission from the BNCMC. The official also said local staff gave incorrect information to higher authorities. During a meeting with Thane Collector Shrikrishna Panchal, who is also holding charge as BNCMC commissioner, on August 5, ward staff wrongly said the building was listed under Category "C2A". The official said this concealed the true extent of the building's structural condition and delayed stronger action.Officials said the civic commissioner has proceeded on leave. Panchal has ordered comprehensive re-audits and fresh classification of all structures under the C-1, C2A and C2B categories across Bhiwandi, the source said. The official added that disciplinary action and direct criminal or administrative accountability would be fixed on civic officials found to have submitted false or negligent building classifications. After the collapse, the BNCMC had said in a statement that the building had been identified as "dangerous" and that a notice was first issued on September 7, 2020, directing the property owners to submit a structural audit report. A reminder was served on April 22, 2022. After non-compliance, the civic body issued eviction notices on June 5, 2026, disconnected electricity and water supply, and evacuated families.However, it said, the property owners illegally began structural repair work. Police later registered an FIR under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita against the building owner and a contractor allegedly carrying out unauthorised work at the premises.The collapse of the Kohinoor Building has now brought focus on the way dangerous structures were classified, the action taken by civic officials, and the repair work that was allegedly carried out without authorisation.- EndsPublished By: India Today Web Desk Published On: Aug 10, 2026 08:39 IST