New Delhi: At least two people have died and several others are feared trapped after a three-storey under-construction building collapsed in Delhi’s Chawri Bazaar on Thursday morning. One person has also been reported injured as rescue operations continue at the site.
The incident was reported around 9:50 am from Gali Sitara, near Chawri Bazaar Metro Station. At least six fire service units, including water tenders and rescue vehicles, were rushed to the location.
Visuals from the spot showed a portion of the building reduced to rubble, with debris scattered across a narrow lane surrounded by adjoining structures. The congested streets of Old Delhi have created difficulties for emergency personnel trying to reach the affected area. Vehicles parked along both sides of the lane have further restricted access.
Residents were seen moving their vehicles to clear the way for ambulances and rescue teams. Emergency personnel have had to walk several metres through the narrow passage to reach the collapse site and assist those affected.
An eyewitness said the collapse occurred around 9:30 am. Residents were asleep when they heard a loud crashing sound and rushed outside, initially fearing that their own homes had collapsed.
According to local residents, the building had been under construction for the past three to four months and was not occupied. Only construction workers were reportedly present inside when the structure came down. The property owner was said to be living with his family in rented accommodation.
The latest incident comes amid a series of building collapses in the national capital. Earlier, two men died after two slabs collapsed during construction work in the Milan Garden area of northeast Delhi. On October 7, another four-storey building collapsed in Seemapuri, killing three people, including a child, while eight others were injured.
Reacting to Thursday’s incident, AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj criticised Chief Minister Rekha Gupta’s government and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). Questioning the effectiveness of building safety audits conducted after an earlier collapse in Satya Niketan, he asked why buildings continued to collapse despite repeated inspections.
Rescue operations are continuing, with authorities working to locate anyone who may still be trapped beneath the debris.
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