Death toll rises to 6 in Old Delhi building collapse
Police have arrested the building owner and three contractors following the three-storey structure collapse in Hauz Qazi.
The death toll from a three-storey building collapse in the Hauz Qazi area of Old Delhi rose to six on Saturday, according to The Economic Times. The structure collapsed near the Chawri Bazar Metro station at approximately 9.45 am on Thursday in Sattara Gali near Ajmeri Gate.
The deceased have been identified as Sanjeet Kumar, Kishori Sah, Pankaj Sharma, Vipin Ram, Shantu, and Dinesh Sah. Police stated that four of the victims were from Bihar, while Vipin Ram was a resident of Mandawali, Delhi.
Authorities have arrested the building owner, Saimullah alias Ayub, and three contractors, Siraj, Tajuddin, and Furkan. The three contractors were caught in Sirohi, Faridabad, and the owner is also in custody.
An FIR was registered at the Hauz Qazi police station on November 5 under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including culpable homicide not amounting to murder. Police noted that between 10 and 15 labourers were at the site when the collapse occurred.
An MCD official said no building plan was sanctioned for the 50-square-metre plot and the construction was allegedly unauthorised. The official added that the building collapsed while a roof slab was being laid using non-engineered material that had not set properly.
In June, the Delhi Police had flagged the unauthorised construction to the MCD's City Sadar Paharganj Zone. Officials said the operation to clear rubble and search for more people continued two days after the incident.