Two Dead in Old Delhi Building Collapse During Construction

A three-story building under construction collapsed in Old Delhi's Chawri Bazaar on Thursday morning, resulting in at least two deaths and leaving several people feared trapped under the debris. The incident occurred in Gali Sitara, near the Chawri Bazaar Metro station, at approximately 9:50 am local time.

Rescue Operations and Casualties

Emergency teams responded to the site following reports of the collapse. According to NewsX, the two men who died after being trapped under the debris were identified as Chanderpal, 60, and Vijay Kumar, 33. Both were rescued and taken to a hospital, where they were declared dead. One other person was reported injured in the incident.

At least six fire department units were deployed to the scene, including water tenders, rescue vehicles, a water bowser, a Quick Response Vehicle (QRV), and an Incident Response Team (IRT). According to The Federal, Station Officer DK Rai informed the department at approximately 10:15 am that the building had collapsed and people might be trapped inside. An official told PTI that "At least 15 people are feared trapped... several have been injured."

Eyewitness Mohd Nayeem reported that residents rushed from their homes after hearing a loud crash. "This happened around 9:00 or 9:30. We were asleep when we heard a crashing sound. We all got up and rushed outside. We thought our own house was collapsing. When we checked, we realised it was the house being built next door. Three or four lintels had already been cast, and they all collapsed at once," Nayeem said.

Safety Concerns and Recent Incidents

The collapse has renewed discussions regarding structural safety in Old Delhi. This incident follows a collapse in the Satya Niketan area of South Delhi on September 6, involving a building used as a boys' paying guest (PG) accommodation. Additionally, a building in the Milan Garden area of northeast Delhi recently saw two slabs give way during the construction of an additional floor.

In Chandni Chowk, a portion of the 160-year-old Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) Town Hall also collapsed earlier this week following two days of heavy rainfall. An MCD official stated the building had already been declared unsafe and barricaded to prevent public access. The collapse damaged the entrance porch roof, two heavy beams, and parts of the historic structure, including the clock mounted above the entrance.

Political Response

Following the collapse, AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj criticized Chief Minister Rekha Gupta's government and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). Bharadwaj questioned the effectiveness of safety audits, stating, "Rekha Gupta's government and MCD conducted multiple safety audits of all buildings in Delhi, yet buildings keep collapsing. Why?"

Bharadwaj also alleged that officials in several departments were collecting bribes. He claimed that while only the Delhi Police and the MCD were previously involved, the Fire Department and SDMs under the Revenue Department had also started collecting bribes after Rekha Gupta's government came to power. He further alleged that buildings whose owners refuse to pay bribes are sealed by the MCD.

---

Sources

• dw.com: India: Several feared trapped in Old Delhi building collapse
• punjabnewsline.com: Three-Storey building collapses in Old Delhi; Two dead, several feared trapped under debris | Punjab Newsline
• freepressjournal.in: Delhi Building Collapse: Two Dead, One Injured As 3 Storey Under-Construction Structure Falls In Chawri Bazar
• newsx.com: Delhi Building Collapse: Three-Storey Under-Construction Structure Falls In Chawri Bazaar, Several Feared Trapped
• deccanherald.com: Two dead, many feared trapped as three-storey building collapses in Delhi’s Chawri Bazar
• thefederal.com: Old Delhi building collapse: 2 dead, 1 injured, AAP slams CM Rekha Gupta

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.