E-Paper
Three-storey building collapses near Delhi’s Chawri Bazar Metro Station; 2 dead, rescue work on
The incident was reported at 9.50 am from Gali Sitara, near the Chawri Bazar Metro station.
Prefer HTon Google
Two people died while several others were injured after a three-storey under-construction building collapsed in Old Delhi's Chawri Bazar on Thursday morning.
Two bodies were taken out from debris by the Delhi Fire Services (DFS) team, while four were rushed to hospital by locals before the arrival of DFS team, Assistant Divisional Officer (ADO) Rajesh Shukla said in an update at around 12 pm, adding that rescue operation is still underway.
The incident was reported at 9.50 am from Gali Sitara, near the Chawri Bazar Metro station, according to PTI news agency. Track LIVE updates from Chawri Bazar building collapse rescue operation here
There was no immediate confirmed information on the number of people trapped. All injured individuals were taken to Lok Nayak hospital.
At least six fire units, including water tenders and rescue vehicles, were rushed to the spot with senior officers supervising the rescue operation, the officials was quoted as saying.
Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta ordered immediate suspension of concerned junior engineer (JE) and assistant engineer (AE), a thorough inquiry into the incident, and registration of FIR against the contractor.
The chief minister's office (CMO) also said on X that strict directions have been issued to ensure best possible medical treatment for the injured and immediate ex-gratia assistance to the affected families.
Stringent action will be taken against those found responsible, in accordance with the law, the CMO X post stated.
What witness saw
A witness, Mohd Nayeem, said he woke up to a crashing sound and saw a body being taken out. “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 realized it was the house being built next door,” he said, speaking to ANI.
"Three or four lintels had already been cast, and they all collapsed at once. One of the injured laborers said there were about three or four people there. We saw a body being taken out. This building was under construction for the last 3-4 months...," he added.
The incident comes amid Diwali rush in Old Delhi area, where wholesale markets such as Chandni Chowk and Chawri Bazar see massive footfall of shoppers.
In Chandni Chowk, meanwhile, more than 160-year-old Town Hall — a Grade-I protected heritage building owned by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), has also collapsed, HT reported on Wednesday. The collapse has left the facade, first floor, roof, walls of the main entrance porch and the clock mounted above it collapsed.
The historic building is owned by the very civic body responsible for protecting and maintaining heritage structures across Delhi.
The complex, which has remained largely unused since MCD shifted its headquarters from this very building in 2011-12, has dilapidated corridors, damaged windows, peeling plaster and blocked passageways.
Last month, four people, including two children, died after a five-storey residential building collapsed in Delhi's Seemapuri area. Eight people suffered injuries in the incident.
