“From Devbhoomi to Deathtrap: Jogeshwari Tragedy Exposes Crumbling Accountability Under Rains”

— A Ground Report by Mission Patrakarita Team

Mumbai | Monday, June 16 –

As monsoon rains bring relief from the summer heat in Mumbai, they also unearth the dark underbelly of reckless urban development. In a harrowing incident this afternoon, a portion of debris from an under-construction building named ‘Devbhoomi’ collapsed in Natwar Nagar, Road No. 1, Jogeshwari East, seriously injuring two elderly women.

The injured have been identified as,  Mrs. Arleen Paul (58) – who suffered a severe head injury and is currently battling for her life in the ICU of Hindu Hridaysamrat Balasaheb Trauma Hospital. Mrs. Sugandha Jagannath Kadam (63) – who sustained serious internal injuries in her arm and remains hospitalized.

The incident occurred around 12:15 PM, amid heavy rainfall. Chaos erupted at the scene as the screams of the injured pierced through the downpour. Local residents and civic responders rushed to rescue the women from beneath a heap of mud and broken concrete.

Shockingly, construction workers at the Devbhoomi site were seen prioritizing the removal of debris to conceal the damage rather than helping the injured women. Their indifference raised questions about on-site safety responsibility and human decency.

Emergency services — including fire brigade, police, and ambulance teams — arrived swiftly to conduct relief operations. Shiv Sena’s local division head, Mr. Dnyaneshwar Sawant, along with his team, took immediate initiative to shift the victims to Hindu Hridaysamrat Balasaheb Trauma Hospital. His associate, Mr. Santosh Bhosale, Mr. Sachin Patil, Mrs. Teli & Mr. Vinayak Yadav,  handled hospital formalities and provided essential support to the victims' families.

While no deaths have been officially reported as of the time of writing, Mrs. Arleen Paul’s condition remains critical. This isn't the first time Jogeshwari has witnessed such negligence. In an earlier incident on Station Road, debris from Malkani Builders’ AIM Garden Project fell on a moving auto-rickshaw, leading to the tragic death of a woman after an iron rod fatally impaled her.

These repeated mishaps beg the question: Has human life lost its value amidst Mumbai’s concrete race? Must every monsoon claim new victims before the city wakes up? Mission Patrakarita has called for strict action against the builders responsible for such negligence. The organization has demanded that an FIR be registered against the contractor of Devbhoomi, and this demand has now garnered political attention. Local MP Mr. Ravindra Waikar has promised firm legal action against those found guilty.

In a city where rainwater floods streets and construction sites alike, the lack of enforcement of safety regulations has turned development into a deadly gamble. The debris that fell today was not just broken concrete — it symbolized the collapse of accountability, where citizen safety lies buried under bureaucratic rubble.

This report is published in the public interest by the Mission Patrakarita team. If you have witnessed negligence, corruption, or injustice — reach out to us. Your voice deserves to be heard before it becomes another statistic.