Worker dies, two injured as boundary wall collapses during PWD sewage work near Lodhi Colony
A boundary wall and an adjoining store room at the Lodi Crematorium near Lodhi Colony collapsed in the early hours of Friday during PWD sewage pipeline construction work, killing one worker and injuring two others. All three of them were buried under the debris before being rescued and taken to AIIMS Trauma Centre.
The incident occurred at around 1:08 am in the Hazrat Nizamuddin police station area. The Public Works Department was carrying out rainwater drainage and sewer line laying work at the site using JCB and Hydra machines. During the excavation and pipeline laying process, the boundary wall and the adjacent store room suddenly gave way, trapping three workers under the rubble.
On receiving information, a team led by Additional DCP-2 Jasbir Singh, along with fire service and ambulance teams, reached the spot and launched a joint rescue operation. All three workers were pulled out from the debris and rushed to the AIIMS Trauma Centre.
Of the three, Devendra, 50, was declared dead by doctors on arrival at the hospital. Rajesh, 48, sustained injuries to his face and lips and is undergoing treatment. Umar, 20, is reported to be out of danger.
Police have registered a case and begun an investigation into the circumstances of the collapse. Legal proceedings are being initiated to fix responsibility for the incident.
The collapse raises questions about the safety protocols being followed during the overnight construction work. The use of heavy excavation machinery, including JCBs and Hydra cranes, during sewer line laying in close proximity to existing structures creates significant stress on surrounding walls and foundations. Whether the boundary wall had been assessed for structural integrity before excavation began in its vicinity is among the questions that investigators are expected to address.
The Lodi Crematorium is located in a well-established part of South Delhi, in the jurisdiction of the Hazrat Nizamuddin police station. The PWD work being carried out at the site was part of an ongoing civic infrastructure activity involving the laying of sewer and rainwater drainage pipelines.
Workers employed on infrastructure projects, particularly those working night shifts when supervision may be lighter and visibility is lower, face heightened risk from structural collapses during excavation work.
The combination of heavy machinery, underground digging, and existing structures nearby creates conditions where sudden collapses can occur with little warning, leaving workers with almost no time to move clear.
