Two people were killed and five others injured after a three-storey building collapsed in the congested Chawri Bazar area of Old Delhi on Thursday morning, triggering an extensive rescue operation amid fears that one or two people could still be trapped under the debris.
The MCD has suspended two engineers and sought registration of an FIR against the building owner after a preliminary inquiry pointed to alleged unauthorised construction and monitoring lapses, despite earlier warnings about the property’s deteriorating condition.
The building, located at property number 4548 in Gali Sheesh Mahal, Gali Shehatara, near Ajmeri Gate, collapsed around 10.30 am on November 5. The structure was a ground-plus-three-floor building situated on a plot measuring approximately 45 square yards.
Rescue teams rushed to the spot immediately after receiving information. Around 30 MCD personnel from the Old Delhi Zone, along with machinery, were deployed to remove the debris and search for survivors. Five injured people were taken for medical treatment, while two casualties were reported. The possibility of one or two persons remaining trapped under the rubble was also being examined.
The rescue operation was complicated by the extremely narrow approach to the property. The building stood at the end of a dead-end lane barely three feet wide, which was inaccessible to motorised vehicles. Personnel had to navigate the congested passage while removing debris. Floodlights were installed to allow rescue and clearance operations to continue after dark.
A preliminary inquiry by the MCD has revealed that the civic body had issued an advisory to the owner, Samiullah, on April 28, warning him about the deteriorating condition of the building. The Maintenance Department of the Old Delhi Zone had advised him to undertake necessary strengthening and corrective work in accordance with building bye-laws, under the supervision of a qualified structural engineer.
The owner was also asked to submit a structural stability certificate issued by an engineer empanelled with the MCD. The advisory, however, explicitly stated that it should not be treated as permission for reconstruction.
The civic body’s records further show that it received information from Delhi Police on June 15 about unauthorised construction activity at the property. Photographs accompanying the police communication reportedly showed repair and maintenance work at the premises.
After the communication, officials inspected the site and found the owner undertaking repair work. However, the MCD said it did not subsequently receive any complaint or information about fresh construction involving the complete demolition of the existing structure.
The preliminary inquiry has now indicated that the owner allegedly carried out fresh construction on the second and third floors under the guise of repair work, without obtaining the necessary permissions or complying with the conditions stipulated in the advisory.
According to the MCD report, the shuttering supporting the third-floor lintel was allegedly removed hurriedly, reportedly amid apprehensions that restrictions could be imposed on the ongoing construction. The lintel subsequently collapsed, triggering the collapse of the entire building. These findings are preliminary and will require further investigation to establish the precise sequence of events and responsibility.
Taking cognisance of the preliminary findings, the MCD has placed the concerned Assistant Engineer and Junior Engineer under suspension with immediate effect, pending an inquiry. A written complaint has also been submitted to Delhi Police seeking registration of an FIR against the owner, Samiullah, over the alleged unauthorised construction.