Tragic Building Collapse in Old Delhi: What Went Wrong?

Building Collapse Claims Lives in Chawri Bazar

New Delhi: A three-story building that was under construction in the densely populated Chawri Bazar area of Old Delhi collapsed on Thursday, resulting in the deaths of two individuals and leaving several others trapped beneath the rubble.

The incident occurred around 9:45 AM in Gali Sitara, close to the Chawri Bazar metro station. Rescue operations were launched immediately, with teams working tirelessly to extract those buried under the debris of twisted metal and concrete, according to police reports.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Rohit Rajbir Singh stated, "Four individuals have been rescued so far. Tragically, two have died from their injuries, while the other two are currently stable and recovering."

At the time of the collapse, it is estimated that between 10 to 15 laborers were present on-site.

Authorities revealed that the construction was unauthorized, taking place on a 50 square meter plot without any approved building plans. A Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) official noted that no complaints had been filed regarding the construction.

The deceased were identified as Kishori (40) and Sanjeet (45), both laborers from the railway colony in Mandawali. The other two injured individuals, Sahdev Chaudhary (25) and Firoz (37), are receiving medical care.

Joint rescue efforts are being conducted by the Delhi Police, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Delhi Fire Services, and MCD.

An FIR has been filed against the building owners and contractors under Section 105, which pertains to culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

The Delhi Police had previously raised concerns about unauthorized construction on this property back in June.

In a letter dated June 15, the SHO of Hauz Qazi police station alerted the MCD about the ongoing unauthorized work, identifying the landowner and contractor as Furqan.

An MCD official mentioned that construction had effectively ceased about 15 days prior to the collapse, which occurred while the roof slab was being installed.

The official indicated that the materials used were substandard and improperly set, contributing to the building's failure.

Efforts are underway to apprehend the builders, as police have already identified them.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has ordered an investigation into the incident and mandated that an FIR be filed against the contractor. She also instructed the immediate suspension of the junior engineer (JE) and assistant engineer (AE) involved, ensuring that the injured receive the best medical treatment and that affected families receive immediate financial assistance.

"Strict action will be taken against those found responsible, in accordance with the law," Gupta stated.

Following the Chief Minister's orders, the MCD has suspended the JE and AE.

Additionally, the Deputy Commissioner of the Old Delhi Zone has placed them on immediate suspension due to apparent negligence in their duties.

Witnesses reported hearing a loud crash as the building fell.

"My family members were trapped behind the building, but they are safe now. Two individuals were rescued, one severely injured and bleeding, while another body was recovered," recounted a local resident who arrived shortly after the collapse.

Another resident noted that he arrived at the market around 10:30 AM and saw rescue teams pulling people from the debris.

"One person was rescued right in front of us, and later a body was taken away in an ambulance. We are unsure how many people are still trapped," he added.

Authorities have restricted access to the site due to concerns that adjacent buildings may also be unstable.

Residents expressed that the construction, which began approximately four months ago, was rushed in anticipation of a seasonal ban on construction activities, with rapid progress noted in the days leading up to the collapse.

This incident marks the second significant building collapse in Delhi within a fortnight, raising alarms about structural safety and unauthorized construction practices in the capital.

On October 25, a portion of an old building along with a newly constructed first floor collapsed in Milan Garden, northeast Delhi, resulting in the deaths of a 60-year-old man and his 33-year-old son.

In total, three major building collapses have occurred between September 6 and October 25, claiming the lives of 13 individuals.

The first incident on September 6 involved a five-story building in southwest Delhi's Satya Niketan, which collapsed and killed seven people, including students and workers.

On October 7, another residential building in New Seemapuri, northeast Delhi, collapsed, resulting in four fatalities and additional injuries.

The third incident occurred on October 25 at Milan Garden, where an old structure and a newly added floor collapsed, leading to two deaths.