Delhi Building Collapse: Death Toll Rises to Three as Third Body Recovered
A third body has been recovered from the Chawri Bazar building collapse site in Old Delhi. Three contractors have been arrested for the tragedy.
The tragedy at the Delhi building collapse site in the Chawri Bazar area has worsened, with the death toll climbing to three on Saturday. Rescue teams working tirelessly through the rubble recovered the remains of another victim, bringing the total number of fatalities to three and leaving the community in mourning.
Victims Identified
The latest victim has been identified as 40-year-old Pankaj Sharma, a resident of Village Hanuman Nagar in the Khagaria district of Bihar. He joins two other victims, Kishori (40) and Sanjeet (45), who also lost their lives in the disaster. So far, five individuals have been accounted for from the site—three deceased and two who sustained injuries. The injured persons have received medical care and are reported to be in stable condition.
The Incident: A Sudden Disaster
The disaster struck around 10:30 am on Thursday when a three-storey under-construction building collapsed at Gali Sheesh Mahal, Gali Shehatara, located near Ajmeri Gate in the densely packed Chawri Bazar area of Old Delhi. The collapse initially left several people feared trapped beneath the concrete and debris, sparking an urgent rescue operation.
Contractors Arrested for Negligence
In the wake of the tragedy, the Delhi Police have taken strict action, arresting three contractors. The arrested individuals—identified as Siraj, Tajuddin, and Furkan, all residents of Village Sirohi in Haryana's Faridabad district—have been booked under Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
What Caused the Collapse?
Authorities are pointing toward severe construction lapses as the primary cause of the tragedy. Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Manoj Kumar noted that a four-storey structure was being erected on a very small plot of land. Preliminary findings suggest that the "centring" or temporary supports were removed prematurely, while the concrete was still wet, causing the structure to give way.
Furthermore, it is suspected that unauthorised construction on the second and third floors added undue pressure, eventually bringing down the entire building.
Challenges in Rescue Operations
The rescue mission, involving approximately 30 personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), faced immense hurdles due to the geography of the area:
- Narrow Access: The building was located at the end of a dead-end lane only three feet wide.
- No Machinery: The narrowness of the street made it impossible for rescue trucks, motorised vehicles, or heavy earthmoving machinery to reach the site.
- Dense Population: The crowded nature of the locality complicated the movement of emergency responders.
Despite these challenges, Delhi Police have confirmed that rescue operations are still underway to ensure no one else remains trapped beneath the debris.