NEW DELHI, Oct. 26 -- At least an hour elapsed before police and the fire department were informed about Sunday's building collapse in northeast Delhi's Harsh Vihar that trapped two men under the debris, according to police officials and eyewitnesses. The two men, who had died by the time they were pulled out and taken to hospital, could have been saved if rescue operations started promptly, their families alleged.

A senior police officer part of the team investigating the case, who asked to remain anonymous, said that preliminary inquiry had established that the collapse occurred around 5.45pm and that the PCR call was made at 6:46pm, "at least an hour after" the incident.

The owner of the building, Manoj Kumar, was present at the time...