Ghatkopar landslip toll rises to eight; residents uncertain over evacuation

The body of the last person missing was recovered after a landslip struck two chawls, Ghausiya Chawl and Garib Nawab Chawl, in Chirag Nagar, Ghatkopar, in the early hours of Wednesday (August 12, 2026) following heavy rains, taking the death toll to eight, as search and rescue operations at the site were called off.

Saddam Wajid Ali Khan, 31, was found on Thursday (August 13, 2026) at around 12:30 p.m., according to Vishal Lakshman Ardekar, senior Police Inspector, Ghatkopar Police Station. The joint NDRF, BMC and Fire Brigade Collapsed Structure Search & Rescue (CSSR) operations were closed at around 1:25 p.m. in consultation with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

Several others were injured, and four people were evacuated. Work is being done to clear the remaining debris, which the BMC is coordinating.

Residents living near the landslip site began to leave their homes, while several others stayed back, saying they did not have family elsewhere or that they were provided with alternate accommodation.

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Aslam Hashmi, his wife, mother-in-law and three girls have decided to move from the area after the landslip. “We are disturbed by what happened yesterday. We never received any notice from the BMC before this incident. We are leaving the chawl to go to my brother’s house nearby in Ashok Nagar before this incident repeats itself,” said Ms. Hashmi.

Amjad Ali, who lives in the neighbouring chawl, was concerned for the families living in Garib Nawab chawl, and said that the Mayor had visited the previous day and asked them to move out of the area. “The Mayor came yesterday and told us to move out. The workers have to break rock and mud in an area of 90 feet, which will take a long time. No one is allowed to take their things from their houses right now. The ladies are troubled because of that,” Mr. Ali said.

Shaira Bhanu, another resident, expressed concern over the risk of further damage to houses in the area. “They haven’t cut the tree down yet. More mud has fallen on the house, and the wall has broken now. More houses can also be affected by the mud,” Ms. Bhanu said.

Shaheek Sheikh, a resident of Garib Nawab chawl, said that her family had nowhere to go from here. “We have lived in this chawl for the past 40 years. This is the first time this is happening in this chawl in 40 years. The people who are leaving have relatives around. We don’t have any relatives anywhere else, so we cannot leave. Our houses are locked by the BMC, and all our things are inside,” she said.

Mohammad Hashim, who lives down the lane from where the landslip hit, said, “We got a notice to evacuate. Where should we go in this rain with small children? This is our own house here.”

Shehbaaz Khan, who lives four houses before the site of the landslip, said, “If the government gives us means to live somewhere else, we will move, or else, we will live here only. We can’t go anywhere with small children.”

Viket Yadav, one of those killed in the landslip, had also lost his family home in the incident, according to his friend Omkar Bhosle. “His house was damaged in the landslip. That was his family’s own house. They are now in a rented house nearby. Nothing is remaining here right now,” Mr. Bhosle said.