Chawri Bazaar Horror: FIR Against Contractor, Engineers Suspended After Building Collapse
Two dead after a building collapse in Chawri Bazaar. CM Rekha Gupta orders FIR against contractor and suspends engineers.
A tragic Chawri Bazaar building collapse has claimed two lives and left one person injured, sparking a massive crackdown on construction negligence in the heart of Delhi. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta visited the site of the disaster on Thursday, announcing immediate legal action against those responsible for the structural failure.
Crackdown on Negligence: FIR and Suspensions
Following her visit to the debris, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta confirmed that a First Information Report (FIR) has been registered against the contractor who was directly overseeing the project. The Chief Minister stated that the contractor failed miserably in ensuring the necessary safety and security measures, leading to the fatal incident.
The accountability did not stop with the contractor. The Municipal Corporation has suspended both the Junior Engineer (JE) and the Assistant Engineer (AE) associated with the project. The Chief Minister's Office (CMO) further clarified via a post on X that a thorough inquiry into the incident has been ordered to determine the exact cause of the collapse.
"I must emphasise that the way people often overlook safety and security measures while constructing their homes poses a fatal risk to their own lives. Any construction work must be carried out with strict adherence to safety and security protocols; furthermore, any official who overlooks such negligence will not be spared," said CM Rekha Gupta.
The Scale of the Tragedy
The structure involved was a ground-plus-two-story building that was still under construction. Rescue operations managed to recover two bodies from the rubble, while one injured individual was successfully rescued and shifted for medical care.
Chief Minister Gupta has issued strict directives to ensure that the injured receive the best possible medical treatment and that immediate ex-gratia assistance is provided to the families affected by the tragedy.
Challenges and Shared Responsibility
Delhi Mayor Parvesh Wahi highlighted the systemic challenges of construction in the area, noting that many lanes in Chawri Bazaar are barely two to three feet wide, which makes access for emergency services and monitoring extremely difficult.
The Mayor emphasized that the burden of responsibility does not lie solely with the officials or contractors, but also with the property owners. He stated that property owners share the responsibility for ensuring that construction rules are strictly followed and noted that FIRs have already been registered against those openly violating building regulations.
Timeline of the Rescue Operation
The emergency response began shortly after 9:50 am when the fire department received a call regarding the collapse in the Paiwalan jurisdiction. The response was swift and scaled up as the severity of the situation became clear:
- Initial Response: Five units were first dispatched, including two water tenders, one water bowser, one Quick Response Vehicle (QRV), and one Incident Response Team (IRT).
- Escalation: An additional water tender and Assistant Divisional Officer (ADO) Rajesh Shukla were sent to the scene, bringing the total to six units.
- Crisis Report: By 10:15 am, Station Officer DK Rai reported that a three-storey building had collapsed with people trapped inside, requesting additional manpower and senior leadership.
The rescue and recovery operation was overseen by ADO Rajesh Shukla, Station Officer (STO) Bhupender Sharma, and SO DK Rai.