New Delhi: The Municipal Corporation of Delhi has suspended five South Zone officials with immediate effect following the building collapse in Delhi’s Satya Niketan area.
The suspension orders, issued on September 7, cover officials from the South Zone’s administrative and engineering departments, including personnel responsible for building related matters. Those suspended are Deputy Commissioner Rakesh Kumar, Superintending Engineer Ranvir Singh, Executive Engineer Lalit Kumar Goel, Assistant Engineer Sunil Chauhan and Junior Engineer Ashish Kumar.
The action comes as rescue operations continue at the collapse site, with emergency teams searching through large amounts of debris for survivors and victims.
According to information provided during the rescue operation, 12 people had been evacuated from the site while seven deaths had been reported. Six of those retrieved were subsequently declared dead, while five others were taken to hospitals for treatment.
One person was still believed to be beneath the debris, with rescue personnel working to extricate them. Teams from the National Disaster Response Force and Delhi Fire Service were deployed at the location, while specially trained canines were also being used to search for signs of people trapped underneath.
Officials said there was no confirmed figure for the number of people who might still be trapped inside the collapsed structure. The unstable debris and difficult conditions have also made it difficult to determine how long the rescue operation will continue.
Two NDRF tactical teams were involved in the operation alongside Fire Service personnel. The disaster response force said its teams are stationed at designated locations across the country on a round the clock rotational basis to ensure rapid deployment during emergencies.
The NDRF follows a protocol requiring teams to begin mobilisation from their bases within 20 minutes of receiving an emergency call.
The suspension of five MCD officials places the functioning of the South Zone’s building and civic administration under scrutiny as authorities continue rescue efforts and examine the circumstances surrounding the collapse.
