A tragic building collapse in south Delhi's Saidulajab area has claimed six lives and left at least 10 others injured, who were rescued from the debris. The incident occurred on Saturday evening when a five-storey commercial building pancake-collapsed, with the upper floors crashing onto the lower ones. Massive concrete slabs landed on a neighbouring canteen, a popular spot for students from local coaching centres.
Victims and Rescue Operations
The deceased include the canteen owner, Parvati, three engineers—Kapil, Nalin Rai, and Alok Verma—and two doctors, Ravi Verma and Ekta. All were having dinner at the canteen at the time of the collapse. Fortunately, no one was inside the building that collapsed. A multi-agency rescue operation lasting 20 hours concluded Sunday afternoon when the final body was retrieved. Rescue teams used specialised victim-location cameras and acoustic listening devices to detect signs of life. Earthmovers, hydraulic cutters, drilling machines, and trained canine squads were also deployed.
Legal and Administrative Action
Delhi Police has filed an FIR on charges of culpable homicide against the absconding building owner, businessman Karamveer, and two contractors. Two engineers from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) have been suspended, and a magisterial inquiry is underway. 3D mapping of the building is likely to be conducted on Monday. The building originally had a ground floor and three upper floors, but two additional floors were recently constructed illegally.
Illegal Construction and Structural Failure
An illegal expansion was allegedly underway on the top floor before the collapse, adding pressure on the structural frame. Locals claim the building was constructed using substandard raw material. A video captured the moment of collapse, showing a thick cloud of dust engulfing the narrow lanes. A senior police officer stated, "The owner was aware of the risks involved, yet the construction continued." The officer added that concerns about the new construction had been conveyed to the MCD months ago. The structure was over a decade old and could not bear the additional load.
Challenges in Rescue Operations
Rescue operations were exceptionally challenging due to the congested, narrow access lanes of Saidulajab, which restricted the movement of large emergency vehicles. Debris had to be removed largely by hand, making extraction slow. An official explained, "The tin shed of the canteen had collapsed on top of all the victims. We removed the sheets piece by piece and cut them carefully to avoid further injury to those trapped." A green corridor was created to ensure swift ambulance movement, and teams were deployed at AIIMS Trauma Centre, Safdarjung Hospital, and Pt Madan Mohan Malaviya Hospital for immediate medical assistance.
Government Response
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta monitored the situation through the night and ordered strict action against those responsible. MCD suspended two senior engineers—an assistant engineer and a junior engineer—from the South Zone building department for gross negligence and failure to check illegal construction. Apart from culpable homicide, police have invoked Sections 290 (negligent conduct regarding building construction) and 125 (act endangering life or personal safety) of the BNS against the absconding owner and contractors. A high-level magisterial inquiry has been constituted to investigate the technical cause of the structural failure, inspect structural design clearances, and probe how unsafe commercial infrastructure was allowed to operate in defiance of public safety laws.
