New Delhi, Nov. 5 -- A three-storey building under construction in Old Delhi's Chawri Bazar area collapsed on Thursday, killing two people and injuring four, officials said. More people are feared trapped under the debris, they said.
Following the collapse, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) suspended two officials, an assistant engineer and a junior engineer. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta ordered an inquiry into the collapse and directed the registration of an FIR against the contractor. The incident was reported at 9.50 am from Gali Sitara, near the Chawri Bazar Metro station. Two bodies were pulled out from the debris by a Delhi Fire Services (DFS) rescue team. Four people were taken to a hospital by locals before DFS teams arrived. The identities of the deceased are yet to be ascertained, police said. An MCD official said construction work at the building had been halted around 15 days ago. Workers were removing the support system beneath the roof when the structure collapsed.
"The material used was non-engineered and had not set properly, which eventually led to the collapse," the official said. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Rohit Rajbir Singh said the building, located in the Hauz Qazi area, had been constructed up to the third floor and collapsed while the lantern (roof slab) was being constructed. "Three people have been rescued from there, out of which two were declared dead in hospital," he said. People living in nearby buildings had been evacuated as an adjoining structure was in a precarious condition and was also being vacated, he added. Teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), DFS, MCD and police were present at the spot, with rescue operations underway. "We have come to know about these three people. Rescue efforts of the police, fire team and NDRF team are going on," Singh said. He said police had identified the builders and efforts were underway to nab them. The construction was unauthorised, he added. "Around 10 to 15 labourers were here when the construction was ongoing," the DCP said.
Gupta also ordered the immediate suspension of the junior engineer (JE) and assistant engineer (AE) concerned and directed officials to ensure the best possible medical treatment for the injured and provide immediate ex-gratia assistance to the affected families. "Stringent action will be taken against those found responsible, in accordance with the law," the chief minister said. Following the chief minister's directions, the MCD suspended the two officials. In separate office orders, the Deputy Commissioner of the Old Delhi Zone placed them under suspension with immediate effect, citing a prima facie case of serious negligence in the discharge of their duties. "In view of the recent incident and the developments arising therefrom, and considering the prima facie case of severe dereliction of duty, you are hereby placed under suspension with immediate effect, pending further inquiry," the orders stated. A senior MCD official said the plot on which the building collapsed measured 50 square metres. No building plan had been sanctioned for the structure, and the civic body had received no complaints regarding the construction, the official said.
Locals recounted hearing a loud crash as the three-storey building collapsed. A resident said the building came crashing down around 9.35 am, following which he rushed to the spot and found the entire structure reduced to rubble. "My family members were trapped behind the building, but they are fine. Two people have been pulled out. One was severely injured and bleeding heavily, while another body was brought out packed," he said. He said both those pulled out were men. Construction work at the site had been underway for around three months, with the third floor recently completed. However, work had been stopped a few days ago, he added.
"The owners are four members, they are brothers," he said. Another local resident said he reached the market around 10.30 am and witnessed rescue teams pulling a person out of the debris. "One person was pulled out by the rescue teams in front of us, and a body was later taken away in an ambulance. We do not know exactly how many people are trapped," he said. He added that people were not being allowed near the site as authorities feared the adjoining building could also be unstable.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.