Four people died including two teenagers, two are in critical condition and 12 others suffered injuries following the collapse of a six-storey house in central Delhi’s Bapa Nagar on Wednesday morning with the rescue operation lasting for more than eight hours.

Delhi Chief Minister-designate Atishi announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh each for the families of the four people who died and visited the RML Hospital where the injured are undergoing treatment.

During her visit, Atishi stated, “The families of the deceased will be provided a compensation of Rs 10 lakh by the Delhi Government,” adding that the compensation will also be given to the injured based on the severity of their injuries.  She said that strict action will be taken against those responsible for this tragedy. Meanwhile, New Delhi BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj also visited the victims.

The rescue operations were initiated by local police and other agencies like Delhi Fire Services. However, later NDRF was also called to join the rescue operations which ended around 5:30 am. DCP M Harsh Vardhan said the building was old and located in narrow lanes of a residential locality in Bapa Nagar of Prasad Nagar.

“We cannot take heavy machines or cranes inside for the operation but the teams of fire department, local police and NDRF are conducting the rescue work,” he said.

Authorities rescued a total of 18 persons, who were shifted to hospitals. “Four of them have been declared dead in hospital, while two remain critical, 11 are under treatment and 1 person has been discharged after treatment,” he said, adding that the collapse also led to damage to the adjacent building.

 “We are taking legal action under section 106 (Causing death by negligence) and 290 (Negligent conduct with respect to pulling down, repairing or constructing buildings etc) of BNS. Further investigation is under progress,” he said. A senior official of the MCD said that the area falls in Special Area category.

“The reason of collapse could not be ascertained. The building had not been found to be under dangerous condition during the pre monsoon survey done by the Maintenance Department. Neither any new construction was being taken up nor any building material was found around or in the collapsed premises,” he added.

According to an official of the Delhi Fire Services (DFS), a call reporting the collapse was received at 9.11 am following which five fire tenders were sent to the spot.

Earlier, Delhi Chief Minister-designate Atishi directed district officials to provide all help to the people residing in the locality. “I have also spoken to the MCD Mayor regarding the accident. There has been a lot of rain this year, my appeal to all the people of Delhi is that if there is any possibility of any accident related to construction, then immediately informs the administration and the corporation, the government will immediately help you,” Atishi stated.

However, this is not an isolated case as recently, on September 13, one person died and two others were injured after a portion of a building collapsed in Delhi’s Nabi Karim area. On August 2, atleast three people were reportedly killed after a portion of a two-storey building collapsed in northwest Delhi’s Jahangirpuri area.

Lashing out at the AAP government and the civic body, Delhi BJP Spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor demanded Rs. One crore compensation for the dead and Rs. 5 lacs for each of injured.