Residents flee 35 crumbling city buildings

The building collapse in east Delhi on Monday night that left 70 people dead has proved to be a real wake-up call. Dangerous structures are being evacuated and demolished across the Capital. Vijaita Singh and Jatin Anand report.

The building collapse in east Delhi on Monday night that left 70 people dead has proved to be a real wake-up call. Dangerous structures are being evacuated and demolished across the Capital.

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In the last two days alone, 35 houses were emptied out after they developed cracks due to construction work in their vicinity.

Most of these properties are in unauthorised colonies in areas such as Shakarpur in east Delhi and Dabri and Mahavir Enclave in the southwest.

On Saturday, an entire lane of shops and small houses in Dabri was evacuated after the top floor of one building was seen to be tilting dangerously.

"After we got a call from a concerned resident, we immediately cordoned off the area and called the MCD, which issued a notice to the property owner and came with its demolition squad," said a police officer.

According to the police, the building is five storeys high but rests on a mere 27-square-yard plot.

"We immediately sent a team and evacuated the house," said RS Krishnia, additional commissioner of police (southwest).

Apart from shops and residences, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi sealed four major hotels and an authorised service station of a major automobile company on National Highway-8 in Mahipalpur on Saturday.