Delhi: one killed, 15 hurt as building caves in during demolition

One person was killed and as many as 15 were injured when a significant portion of a four-storey building at northeast Delhi caved in during demolition on Friday night, the police said.

One person was killed and as many as 15 were injured when a significant portion of a four-storey building at northeast Delhi caved in during demolition on Friday night, the police said.

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The incident was reported from Jafrabad around 2:05 am. All the victims were labourers engaged in the building’s demolition after it was found to have tilted dangerously a few hours earlier.

One Furkan was identified as the sole casualty while the others are undergoing treatment at the Guru Teg Bahadur (GTB) hospital.

“A message was received around 8 pm yesterday that the said property was tilting. The Deputy Commissioner of Shahdara (North) Zone immediately acted upon the complaint and sent a team for inspection,” said an MCD official.

After inspecting the structure, the building itself and those living in its vicinity, according to the Municipal Corporation, were evacuated based on apprehensions that it may collapse.

The owner of the building was allegedly served a notice to demolish the dangerous portion of the building failing which the East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) would do the needful as per procedure.

“The owner said he himself would get the building demolished. As reported, the owner engaged the labour in the night and started demolishing the building after placing support of wooden planks at some presumed weak portions of the building. During the course of its demolition a part of the building collapsed,” the official said.

Twelve ambulances rushed to the spot on receiving a distress call. The said building occupied a 300 square yard area. Those injured were discharged after being administered minor first-aid.

“It is clarified that the building was old, no new construction was being done. However, the EDMC has deployed one poklaine, 3JCBs, 10 trucks and sufficient number of beldars to demolish the remaining portion of the dangerous building and removal of malba (debris),” the official added.