India, April 6 -- A major tragedy was narrowly averted after the parapet and dilapidated portions of a few shops collapsed in the city's busy Books Market early on Sunday, hours before the area opened to the public.

The incident, reported around 6 am, spared dozens of shopkeepers, workers and visitors who usually throng the market, especially on Sundays when footfall is high. Books Market is among the busiest commercial hubs in the city and had the incident occurred during peak hours, it could have led to serious casualties.

According to Jaspal Singh, president of the Books Market Shopkeepers' Association, the structures that gave way had long been in a dilapidated condition.

"These portions were weak and deteriorating for a long time....