New Delhi, Sept. 8 -- Two days after a five-storey building collapsed in Delhi's Satya Niketan, killing seven people, civic authorities have decided to demolish the adjoining building after finding it structurally unsafe. The neighbouring structure is currently being supported by 18 to 20 iron guardrails placed across its front, rear and central sections as a precaution. Following an inspection, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi found the building weakened and issued a demolition notice. The demolition is expected to be carried out in a phased and controlled manner.

The building was found to have structural deficiencies, with experts noting that the ground floor appeared to have been constructed without pillars or beams, while additional floors were added later. Officials said its overall structural condition was poor. Six other buildings near the site have also been sealed following the collapse.

The incident has prompted wider safety measures across Delhi. The Lieutenant Governor has ordered structural audits of buildings housing paying guests in major PG hubs, with inspections to be completed within a week. The checks will particularly focus on structures suspected of violating height and floor restrictions. Meanwhile, the civic body has directed executive engineers across all zones to inspect buildings under their jurisdiction and submit detailed reports by September 10. The findings will be included in an affidavit to be submitted before the Delhi High Court.

The collapsed building, according to officials, was constructed in the 1990s on a plot of around 55 square yards in a resettlement colony and had a basement, ground floor and four upper floors. It was being used as a boys' hostel. Officials said the structure did not have a sanctioned building plan, while permission in such resettlement colonies had originally been granted only for ground-plus-one structures. The collapse has renewed concerns over unauthorised and unsafe construction in the national capital.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.