Two killed and four injured as building collapses in Delhi's Chawri Bazar
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has ordered an inquiry and suspended two engineers following the collapse of an under-construction building.
Two people were killed and four others were injured when a three-storey building under construction collapsed in Old Delhi's Chawri Bazar on Thursday morning, according to reports by Deccan Herald, The News Mill and India TV.
The incident occurred around 9.50 am at Gali Sitara, near the Chawri Bazar Metro station. The deceased have been identified as 40-year-old Kishori and 45-year-old Sanjeet, The News Mill reported.
Rescue operations involving the Delhi Fire Services (DFS), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Delhi Police and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) are ongoing. At least six fire units were rushed to the site to assist in the search for those feared trapped under the debris.
An MCD official stated that the building was under construction but work had been halted approximately 15 days ago. The official added that the use of non-engineered material that had not set properly may have led to the collapse.
DCP Central Rohit Rajbir Singh said the construction was unauthorised and that police had previously sent a letter to municipal agencies regarding the violation. He noted that 10 to 15 labourers were present at the site when the collapse occurred.
Following the incident, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta ordered an inquiry and directed the registration of an FIR against the contractor. She also ordered the immediate suspension of the concerned assistant engineer (AE) and junior engineer (JE).