Surat: Panic gripped the Bhimrad Chowk area late on Tuesday night after a diaphragm wall at an under-construction 13-storey project collapsed, triggering a major scare in the adjoining residential society and forcing hundreds of families to vacate their homes. The incident occurred at the ‘Vivan’ project being developed by Rajlaxmi–TR Group, where excavation for three basement levels is currently underway.

According to officials and local residents, an around 40-foot-high and 150-foot-long diaphragm wall constructed for the three basements suddenly collapsed with a deafening noise. Residents described the impact as “earthquake-like”, with people from nearby housing societies rushing out of their homes in fear.

The collapse had a direct impact on the adjoining Shiv Residency apartment complex. As soil slid towards the deep excavation pit, the society’s compound wall and a parking shed gave way. The project site falls under TP Scheme No. 42 (Bhimrad), FP No. 60, where permission was granted by the Surat Municipal Corporation’s Town Planning Department on May 21, 2025, for five residential and commercial towers with three basements, a ground floor, and 13 upper floors.

As per the sanctioned plan, diaphragm walls had been constructed on three sides of the site, with excavation in progress when the eastern-side wall reportedly failed late at night. The loud crash caused alarm across nearby residential pockets, drawing a large crowd to the spot.

Following the incident, fear spread among Shiv Residency residents, many of whom hurriedly shifted vehicles parked in the basement, risking their own safety. Fire department teams rushed to the site, and as a precautionary measure, barricades were erected and ropes tied off in the parking area. No injuries or vehicle damage have been reported so far.

However, the consequences for residents have been severe. Nearly 300 families from Shiv Residency were forced to vacate their flats overnight after civic authorities flagged safety concerns. Residents gathered on the streets and staged protests, demanding strict action against the builder and immediate arrangements for alternative accommodation. Children, elderly residents and women were seen in distress, with several breaking down after being asked to leave homes built with their lifetime savings.

One distraught resident said, “We built this home with all our savings. I just want my home back.” Another recalled, “There was a blast-like sound at night. It felt like an earthquake.”

The Surat Municipal Corporation pasted evacuation notices at Shiv Residency, ordering residents to vacate in the interest of public safety. It is learnt that the corporation has cancelled the developer’s licence, while the licences of the structural engineer and clerk-supervisor associated with the project have also been revoked.

Residents alleged that repeated attempts to contact the builder have failed, with calls going unanswered, and said there has been no clarity on temporary accommodation or relief measures. With hundreds of families spending nights outside their homes and no immediate rehabilitation plan in place, the incident has raised serious questions about builder negligence, oversight by civic authorities, and the lack of prompt relief for affected residents. DeshGujarat