A 22-year-old pregnant woman sustained head injuries on Wednesday morning after a portion of the ceiling plaster in her flat collapsed while she was asleep. The incident took place around 5 am in Building No. 6A4, NL2 Road, Nerul.
The victim, identified as Arti Usman Ali, was sleeping alongside her husband when the plaster gave way, striking her head. She was rushed to the civic hospital in Nerul with severe bleeding and underwent stitches to her wound.
“A CT scan was carried out and no major trauma was detected. Her condition is stable,” said Dr. Uddhav Khilare of the civic hospital.
According to the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC), the building had been declared unsafe nearly a decade ago. In 2016, it was categorised as C-1 — extremely dangerous and unfit for habitation — and eviction notices were issued to all 341 residents. However, due to disputes over redevelopment, many families refused to vacate their homes. While some flats were abandoned, around 150 tenements continued to live in the dangerous structure.
Following Wednesday’s incident, the civic authorities took strict action. The encroachment department disconnected water and sewage lines, while the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co. Ltd. (MSEDCL) was instructed to cut electricity. Officials also directed the building’s administrator to ensure immediate evacuation of remaining residents.
“The structure was marked for immediate redevelopment in 2016. But due to disputes, progress stalled. This incident underlines the urgency of vacating the building,” an NMMC official said.
The civic body has reiterated its appeal to residents to move out immediately, stressing that the building poses a serious risk to life and safety.
