3 min readSuratUpdated: Jul 1, 2026 02:45 PM IST
Two members of a tribal family were crushed to death after a portion of the compound wall of an under-construction project of the World Trade Center in Gujarat’s Bharuch collapsed onto their hut following heavy rain. Two women of the family who were trapped in the debris were rescued with minor injuries, the police said.
The wall also collapsed onto a second hut, killing four goats while its occupants escaped.
According to the police, the incident took place around 2.30 am in the Aali Matariya area in Bharuch town while the family was in deep sleep.
The deceased have been identified as Ashwin Vasava, 42, and his son Ashish Vasava, 22, the police said. The fire officials, however, rescued Ashwin’s mother, Sonu Chiman Vasava, 62, and his wife, Shakuben Ashwin Vasava, 40 — after lifting the huge compound wall.
The two women sustained minor injuries and were rushed to Bharuch Civil Hospital. Their condition is said to be stable, the police said.
The construction site of World Trade Center. (Express/Special Arrangement)
Heavy rain weakens wall
Bharuch Chief Fire Officer Chiragdan Gadhvi said a lengthy wall, measuring 20 feet in length and 18 feet in height, was erected on an open land where the World Trade Centre, a shopping mall complex, was coming up.
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The officer said foundation work was underway at the site, during which soil excavated for the basement was piled up along the compound wall bordering a slum settlement.
“Due to heavy rainfall, the compound wall could not bear the weight of the mud pile with rainwater, as a result of which, some portion of the wall collapsed on adjacent two hutments, where tribal people lived. Two members of one family were killed, while the occupants of the second hut escaped, though four of their goats died. Fire personnel later cleared the debris from the site,” Gadhvi said.
After the incident, the residents in the neighbourhood rushed to rescue the family, but in vain. Subsequently, they alerted the police and the fire department control room.
C K Patel, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Bharuch, said, “We will engage different agencies such as the Road and Building Department, Civil Construction Department to probe the incident. Once the report is ready, we will take appropriate action. At present, it is difficult to say anything, as the probe is on.”
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The Bharuch police have registered an accidental death case and have started a probe.
Neighbours said that the tragedy could have been averted if the compound wall of the World Trade Centre was constructed farther away from the hut.
“Ashish Vasava and Ashwin Vasava were earning members of the family. We want the family of the deceased to be properly compensated, and action be taken against the accused, so that justice would be served,” said Nilesh Vasava, a neighbour.
Local BJP leaders and Bharuch Town Chief Officer Harish Agrawal have visited the spot and assessed the situation.
