Criminal neglect and apathy of civic agencies snuffed out five precious lives, including six children, when a four-storey building in Ashok Vihar Phase 3 near Sawan Park collapsed like a pack of cards on Wednesday at 9.10 am. The incident has left at least seven others injured.
The building — belonging to a private contractor who in his greed to get rent, had virtually coerced unsuspecting families to live in that death trap — was in a dilapidated condition for the last two years with some local residents even lodging a complaint with the local authorities. But no action was taken by the civic bodies.
Around 20-25 people were living in the building that had been dangerously tilting.
The collapse was so quick that women and children could not scurry to safety in time and were buried in the debris. However, rescue teams arrived sooner than expected and victims were taken out to a nearby hospital.
“There were 12 people inside the building when the incident took place. The injured were rushed to Deep Chand Bandhu Hospital (DCBH), where four were declared brought dead while one succumbed to injuries. Three critically injured were referred to Lok Nayak Hospital, while four others are undergoing treatment in DCBH hospital,” said a senior police official.
“The ground floor of the building housed a shop, which was closed while the first floor was vacant. Umesh with his wife and two children lived on the second floor of the building. Umesh lost his wife Seema (24), son Shaurya (2) and daughter Ashi (3) in the incident. Seema was in critical condition and was referred to LNJP, where she succumbed to injuries,” said a senior police official.
“Raj Bahadur was living with his family on the third floor. Raj’s wife Sangeeta, alias Munni (40), lost her life in the incident. Raj has four children, at time of incident three children had left for school and the eldest daughter had left for work. Raj and their two guests Kamlesh and Vijay were also injured in the incident,” said a senior police official.
“Bimlesh, who also lived on the same floor just opposite Raj Bahadur’s, lost both her children Rajnesh (4) and Sumnesh (10). The fourth floor was occupied by a couple —Narottam and Nisha. Nisha is critical,” the police said.
Umesh’s sister Rekha said she rushed to the house on her brother’s call. “Umesh works in parlour. One of Umesh’s daughters, Rishika, was at school, while Seema, Ashi, Shaurya, Umesh wife’s sister, Manju, and their brother Laxman were at home,” said Rekha.
“He had paid Rs 8,000 rent two days ago. He was planning to shift but the house owner didn’t let him move. If he would have shifted from the house both of the children would be there with us,” she said with tears in her eyes.
Bimlesh, who lost his both sons Rajnesh and Sumnesh, said, “As soon as I left home and had barely walked a few metres, I heard a loud noise and when I turned back, I saw the building collapse like a pack of cards. I am waiting to hear about the condition of my family members.”
Locals told The Pioneer that a sesame tree, adjacent to the building was supporting the wall. “The tree had stopped this wall from collapsing. The tree acted as alarm but still there was no action taken by the house owner or the local authorities,” said Guddu, a resident.
Despite the building’s structure being weak, the owner had constructed three more floors some seven years ago without any approval from local municipal authorities, said residents.
“Most of them are also employed with Dharmendra, who is owner of the house and also a private construction contractor. We have called him several times and urged him to take care of this building but from last two years the building remained a terror for locals and unfortunately negligence by owner and authorities have claimed lives of innocents,” said Guddu.
Meanwhile, police registered an FIR against the building owner, who is reportedly on the run. “We have registered a case under section 304 of the IPC, which amounts to culpable homicide not amounting to murder, punishable with a maximum term of 10 years, against the owner of building Dharmender, his partner Sachin and Sachin’s father who had rented out the building in Ashok Vihar,” said Aslam Khan, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), North west district.