Two dead after three-storey building collapses in Chandni Chowk
Rescue operations are underway in Old Delhi after an under-construction building fell on Thursday morning.
Two people died after a three-storey building under construction collapsed in the Gali Sattara area of Sheesh Mahal, near Chawri Bazaar Metro Station, on Thursday, according to ANI and The Indian Express.
The fire department received a call regarding the collapse at approximately 9:50 am in the Paiwalan jurisdiction. Station Officer DK Rai informed officials at 10:15 am that the structure had fallen and noted that people might be trapped under the debris.
Six fire department units, including water tenders and an Incident Response Team (IRT), were deployed to the site. Assistant Divisional Officer (ADO) Rajesh Shukla and Station Officer (STO) Bhupender Sharma are attending the operation.
An eyewitness, Mohd Nayeem, said the collapse occurred between 9:00 am and 9:30 am. He stated the building had been under construction for the last 3 to 4 months and observed that several lintels collapsed at once.
Aam Aadmi Party leader Saurabh Bharadwaj criticised the Rekha Gupta government, alleging corruption in safety audits and enforcement by various departments. He questioned why buildings continue to collapse despite audits being conducted.
Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the collapse and checking for any operational lapses in the construction process.