2 dead, 1 hurt in Uttam Nagar building collapse

Two people were killed and one critically injured when a four-storey, under-construction building in west Delhi’s Nihal Vihar area collapsed on Tuesday evening, a Delhi Fire Services (DFS) official said.

Two people were killed and one critically injured when a four-storey, under-construction building in west Delhi’s Nihal Vihar area collapsed on Tuesday evening, a Delhi Fire Services (DFS) official said.

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According to police and Delhi Fire Services (DFS) officials, the incident took place around 4pm, when the building, located in Nihal Vihar’s Chander Vihar area collapsed, killing two persons, including the owner of the structure.

“Out of two casualties, one has been identified as Nirmal Singh — the owner of the

building — while the other deceased is a labourer and is yet to be identified,” said a senior police officer investigating the incident.

At the conclusion of a rescue operation that lasted several hours after the accident — that authorities claim occurred due to a faulty foundation — two bodies were recovered from

the debris, in addition to an injured labourer, identified as Daya Ram.

Police said those pulled out from under the debris were rushed to the nearby Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital. Daya Ram, who suffered critical injuries in the incident, is said to be stable.

“Though we have combed the entire perimeter of the collapsed building, we fear that there are about three to four people trapped under the debris. A building just adjacent to the collapsed site has also tilted and people have been evacuated from there,” said a DFS official, adding that more than 12 fire tenders and a CAT Ambulance were present at the site.

Meanwhile, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has ordered an enquiry into the matter. “Municipal Commissioner, Mr KS Mehra, ordered an inquiry into collapse of the building (on Tuesday evening). He has directed the deputy commissioner to examine all aspects of the issue and submit a report in three days. Further action will be taken subsequently,” said Deep Mathur, director, Press and Information, MCD.