Palghar Building Collapse: 2 Dead, 9 Injured in Vasai Tragedy

The rear section of the four-storey Ramabai Apartment on Narangi Road in Vasai collapsed onto a nearby chawl around 12:05 a.m., according to officials.

Two lives lost and nine injured after a section of Ramabai Apartment collapsed in Vasai’s Palghar district. Rescue operations are underway.

Two people were killed and nine others sustained injuries after a portion of a four-storey building collapsed in Vasai, located in Maharashtra’s Palghar district, early Wednesday (August 27, 2025).

According to officials, the rear portion of Ramabai Apartment, situated on Narangi Road, gave way around 12:05 a.m., crashing onto an adjoining chawl. The sudden collapse caused panic in the area, and rescue teams rushed to the site to assist those trapped.

The injured victims were immediately taken to hospitals in Virar and Nalasopara, where they are undergoing treatment. Authorities have cordoned off the site and launched an investigation into the structural integrity of the building.

Incidents of building collapses in Maharashtra have been a recurring concern, particularly during the monsoon season, when older structures are at greater risk. Officials are expected to conduct safety audits to prevent similar tragedies.

Trump’s 50% tariffs on Indian goods take effect, exporters brace

The Indian government is emphasizing a Swadeshi-driven approach to strengthen self-reliance and reduce dependence on exports. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged citizens to support domestic industries by being “vocal for local” and prioritizing Indian-made products.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

The 50% U.S. tariffs on Indian imports officially came into effect on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) uploaded the notification to the official register a day earlier. The decision stems from President Donald Trump’s executive order on August 6, which imposed an additional 25% duty on Indian imports, citing India’s continued oil trade with Russia. This comes on top of the earlier 25% tariffs introduced on July 31, making it the highest tariff rate globally on Indian exports.

In response, the Indian government is pushing a renewed focus on self-reliance, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging citizens to embrace the “vocal for local” movement. Speaking on Tuesday, August 26, Modi called on Indians to reduce dependence on imports and support domestic products to cushion the blow of U.S. restrictions.

Industry bodies, however, have raised concerns about the economic fallout. According to early estimates, more than $47 billion worth of Indian goods may now be subjected to the higher tariff rate, hitting key sectors such as textiles, apparel, seafood, and engineering goods. Exporters from hubs like Tirupur, Surat, and Noida fear a significant loss of competitiveness, particularly against rivals from Vietnam and Bangladesh, who enjoy lower tariff regimes in the U.S.

While the government positions the crisis as an opportunity to accelerate domestic production and reduce import dependence, the immediate reality for exporters remains bleak. With the U.S. being India’s largest export market, businesses are bracing for a sharp decline in shipments, job losses, and disruptions across supply chains.