Ranchi's Crumbling Structures: A Deadly Monsoon Hazard

Ranchi is facing a serious safety concern as numerous old private and government buildings, weakened by monsoon rains, present a significant risk of collapse. Areas like Jalan Road and Upper Bazaar are home to dilapidated structures with cracked walls and damaged roofs, many of which are commercial hubs. The government bus stand near Ranchi railway station is also noted for its poor condition, endangering hundreds of daily commuters.

Past incidents underscore the danger, including a school roof collapse in Piska More last year, which resulted in one fatality. In Jamshedpur, a building roof collapse in July 2025 injured three people, and a balcony collapse at MGM Medical College in May 2025 claimed four lives. Despite these warnings, the Ranchi Municipal Corporation has not yet initiated surveys for unsafe buildings or issued evacuation notices.

An RMC official stated that while surveys for illegal structures are ongoing, no explicitly unsafe buildings have been identified. Action will be taken upon expert inspection if such buildings are found. The civic body relies on public and government authorities to report dilapidated structures, like a recent report about an agriculture department building near Kutchery, prompting an inspection directive.