The death toll following a building collapse in Old Delhi’s Hauz Qazi area has risen to three, as rescue operations extend into their third day. Another body was retrieved from the rubble on Saturday, intensifying efforts to locate any remaining victims trapped beneath the debris.
Details of the Incident
The three-storey building crumbled at approximately 9:45 am on Thursday, prompting an immediate response from emergency services. The structure, located near the Chawri Bazar Metro station in Gali Sitara, was under construction when it suddenly collapsed, leading to a significant rescue operation.
Among the deceased is Pankaj Sharma, a 40-year-old man from Bihar’s Khagaria district. His body was discovered during the ongoing search efforts. In total, five individuals have been either rescued or recovered from the site, including three fatalities and two injured persons who have since been stabilized after receiving medical treatment.
Rescue Operations and Safety Concerns
The rescue mission has been a collaborative effort, involving the Delhi Police, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Delhi Fire Services, and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central), Rohit Rajbir Singh, reported that at the time of the collapse, approximately 10 to 15 laborers were present on-site.
Preliminary investigations have raised serious questions about the legality and safety of the construction. Allegedly, the building was being erected without necessary approvals on a 50-square-metre plot, with no sanctioned building plan. An MCD official indicated that the construction reached the third floor and collapsed while the roof slab was being laid. The use of non-engineered construction materials that had not set properly is suspected to have contributed to the collapse.
Rescue teams continue to work tirelessly, clearing debris and searching for any individuals who might still be trapped. The focus remains on ensuring all victims are accounted for and addressing the safety violations that led to this tragic incident.
Source: NDTV India
