Chawri Bazar Building Collapse: 3 Contractors Arrested for Culpable Homicide
Three contractors arrested after a building collapse in Chawri Bazar killed two. Rescue operations continue for five people trapped in the basement.
The Delhi Police have taken decisive action following the tragic Chawri Bazar building collapse, arresting three contractors in connection with the incident that has already claimed two lives. The accused, identified as Siraj, Tajuddin, and Furkan, were apprehended from Village Sirohi in the Faridabad district.
The arrests come as authorities investigate the fatal collapse of an under-construction structure located in Gali Sheesh Mahal. The police have registered a case under Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which pertains to punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
Rescue Operations Amidst Severe Challenges
The situation on the ground remains critical. According to SDM Manoj Kumar, while four individuals have been successfully rescued, five others are feared to be trapped within the basement of the ruined structure. A dedicated team of 30 personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) are working tirelessly to locate the missing persons.
The rescue efforts have been hampered by the geography of the area. The building is situated at the end of a dead-end lane that is barely three feet wide. This extreme narrowness has made it impossible for motorized vehicles, rescue trucks, or heavy earthmoving machinery to reach the site, forcing teams to operate under grueling conditions.
What Caused the Collapse?
Preliminary investigations suggest a catastrophic failure in construction safety and protocols. SDM Manoj Kumar highlighted several key factors that likely led to the disaster:
- Unauthorised Construction: Reports indicate that unauthorised work on the second and third floors gave way, triggering a domino effect that brought down the entire structure.
- Premature Support Removal: The four-storey building was constructed on a very small plot. It is suspected that the "centring" (temporary supports) was removed while the concrete and debris were still wet.
- Structural Instability: Because the supports were removed too early, the wet concrete collapsed, subsequently trapping people and debris in the basement.
A Race Against Time
The collapse occurred at approximately 10:30 AM on Thursday, sending shockwaves through the densely populated neighborhood of Old Delhi. To maintain the momentum of the search, civic authorities and rescue teams deployed floodlights to continue operations throughout the night.
As the NDRF and MCD continue to sift through the rubble, the focus remains on rescuing the five individuals still believed to be trapped beneath the set concrete and debris.