Chawri Bazar Building Collapse: 3 Contractors Arrested After 2 Die
Three contractors arrested after a building collapse in Delhi's Chawri Bazar kills two. Rescue operations continue for those trapped in the debris.
In a swift crackdown following a devastating structural failure, the Delhi Police have arrested three contractors in connection with the Chawri Bazar building collapse. The incident, which occurred in the heart of Old Delhi, has already claimed two lives and left several others injured, sparking a massive rescue operation that continued into Friday.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Siraj, Tajuddin, and Furkan, all residents of Village Sirohi in the Faridabad district of Haryana. Authorities have booked them under Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) as investigations into the cause of the disaster intensify.
Tragedy at Gali Sheesh Mahal
The disaster struck around 10:30 am on Thursday at Gali Sheesh Mahal, Gali Shehatara, located near Ajmeri Gate in the Chawri Bazar area. A three-storey building under construction suddenly gave way, bringing down the entire structure. Two men, identified as 40-year-old Kishori and 45-year-old Sanjeet, lost their lives in the collapse, while five others suffered injuries.
The Cause: Negligence and Unauthorised Work
Preliminary assessments suggest a lethal combination of greed and technical negligence. Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Manoj Kumar revealed that a four-storey structure had been crammed onto a very small plot of land. The primary suspicion is that the "centring"—the temporary supports used during construction—was removed prematurely while the concrete was still wet, leading to the structural failure.
Furthermore, authorities suspect that unauthorised construction on the second and third floors added undue stress to the building, ultimately causing the entire edifice to crumble.
A Race Against Time in Narrow Lanes
The rescue operation has been a logistical nightmare for the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). The building is located at the end of a dead-end lane barely three feet wide, making it impossible for rescue trucks, motorised vehicles, or heavy earthmoving machinery to reach the site.
Because of these constraints, more than 30 MCD zonal labourers, medical personnel, and rescue teams had to navigate the densely populated locality on foot. Debris has been cleared primarily by hand, supplemented by compact equipment. Floodlights were deployed to allow search teams to work through the night.
Search for the Missing
While four people have been successfully rescued, SDM Manoj Kumar stated that five others are feared trapped in the basement. The rescue effort is complicated by the fact that the wet concrete, which caused the collapse, has now set, trapping victims beneath a hardened layer of debris.
Administrative Action and Legal Fallout
The tragedy has led to immediate administrative consequences. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has ordered the immediate suspension of the area's Junior Engineer (JE) and Assistant Engineer (AE). Additionally, she has directed that a First Information Report (FIR) be registered against the contractor.
The Delhi Police have confirmed that the investigation is ongoing, and legal action is being pursued not only against the contractors but also against the owners of the building.