Chawri Bazar Horror: 2 Dead, 5 Feared Trapped in Building Collapse
Two dead and five feared trapped after an under-construction building collapses in Delhi's Chawri Bazar. Rescue operations continue in the narrow lanes.
Tragedy struck the heart of Old Delhi on Thursday morning when an under-construction building in the Chawri Bazar area collapsed, leaving two people dead and several others injured. While rescue teams have managed to pull four individuals from the wreckage, officials fear that five more people remain trapped beneath the heavy debris in the basement.
The Moment of Collapse
The incident occurred at approximately 10:30 AM at Property No. 4548, located in Gali Sheesh Mahal, Gali Shehatara, near Ajmeri Gate. According to reports, the structure was an under-construction building where unauthorised work was being carried out on the second and third floors. The instability of these upper levels eventually gave way, triggering a catastrophic collapse that brought down the entire structure.
A Race Against Time in Narrow Lanes
The rescue operation has faced immense logistical hurdles due to the geography of the locality. The building is situated at the end of a dead-end lane that is barely three feet wide. This extreme congestion meant that motorised vehicles, rescue trucks, and heavy earthmoving machinery could not reach the site.
As a result, the operation has been a grueling manual effort. Medical personnel, rescue teams, and more than 30 labourers from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) had to navigate the narrow alleys on foot to reach the victims. To facilitate the search through the night, authorities deployed floodlights to illuminate the wreckage.
What Caused the Disaster?
SDM Manoj Kumar provided insight into the suspected cause of the collapse, pointing toward negligence during the construction process. He noted that a four-storey structure had been erected on a very small plot of land.
"It appears that the centring (temporary support) was removed while the debris/concrete was still wet, which led to the collapse. The wet debris has now set and is trapped in the basement," SDM Manoj Kumar stated.
Current Rescue Status
The operation is currently being spearheaded by a joint team of 30 personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). While four people have been successfully rescued, the focus remains on the basement where five individuals are suspected to be trapped. Rescuers are using compact equipment and manual labor to clear the rubble and reach those still missing.
- Casualties: 2 confirmed dead.
- Injured: 5 people reported injured.
- Rescued: 4 people saved so far.
- Missing: 5 people feared trapped in the basement.