Key Facts
- A devastating incident shook Indore’s Ranipura area on Monday night (September 22, 2025), when a three-storey residential building collapsed around 9:30 PM, killing two people and injuring 12 others.
- The deceased were identified as Alifa (20 years old) and Faheem. Fourteen family members were trapped under the debris, with 12 rescued and rushed to Maharaja Yeshwantrao Government Hospital (MYH). Among the injured are a three-month-old infant named Yasira and a seven-year-old boy.
- The structure stood behind Premsukh Talkies on Jawahar Marg in Daulat Ganj, housing four families with shops on the ground floor and residences above.
Background and Structural Concerns
Preliminary investigations revealed that the 8–10-year-old building had shown visible cracks and plaster deterioration in recent months. The basement had been waterlogged for years, weakening the foundation.
District Collector Shivam Verma confirmed that the front portion had been renovated, but the rear section remained structurally compromised. The building lacked proper beams and columns, and continuous water accumulation had eroded its stability.
Residents further alleged that rats damaging walls and vibrations from nearby hotels may have worsened the building’s condition.
Official Statements
- District Collector Shivam Verma: “The front portion of the building had recently been rebuilt, but the back portion was old. We will investigate the condition of the building's foundation.”
- Police Commissioner Santosh Kumar Singh: “It’s a three-storey building with shops below and residential quarters above. Nearly 40–45% of the structure has collapsed.”
- Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava: Confirmed that parts of the collapsed building struck a neighboring structure, prompting structural audits of nearby properties.
Rescue Operations
The five-hour rescue operation was carried out jointly by the Municipal Corporation, police, district administration, State Disaster Emergency Response Force (SDERF), and Civil Defence, with help from locals.
Heavy machinery, including JCBs and excavators, was deployed to remove debris. Electricity in the Ranipura area was cut off to prevent electrocution hazards during the operation.
Four injured remain in critical condition at MYH Hospital. Dr. Arvind Ghanghoria, Dean of MGM Medical College, said most victims are stable but under observation.
Safety and Administrative Concerns
The collapse has triggered serious concerns over building safety standards and code enforcement in Indore.
- Ward Councillor Ansaf Ansari stressed the dangers of aging buildings in congested neighborhoods with weak foundations.
- Urban Development Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya admitted the locality was illegally developed, raising broader questions about Indore’s unregulated urban expansion.
Authorities have launched inspections of old and dilapidated structures in the vicinity to prevent further tragedies.
Community Impact
The tragedy deeply rattled the tightly packed Ranipura community. Local residents rushed to help rescue trapped families before official teams arrived.
Since the collapse occurred during peak evening hours, most families were indoors — a factor that could have resulted in even greater casualties.
The incident has reignited calls for stricter monitoring, timely repairs, and preventive demolition of unsafe buildings across Madhya Pradesh’s cities, especially during the monsoon season.
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