Three-storey building caves in, kills five, injures 12

A three-storeyed building collapsed in northeast Delhi’s Karawal Nagar area on Wednesday evening, killing five people — four of a family — and injuring 12, reports Ravi Bajpai.

A three-storeyed building collapsed in northeast Delhi’s Karawal Nagar area on Wednesday evening, killing five people — four of a family — and injuring 12.

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Nanhe Khan used to live on the groundfloor of the building with his family. He ran a garment manufacturing unit on the first and second floors, the police said. He was out for some work when the building’s third floor reportedly collapsed at around 4.30 p.m. Some minor construction work was under way on that floor, a police officer said.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (northeast district) Jaspal Singh said the building’s foundation was weak and the walls were quite thin.

“A manufacturing unit was operational being run from the upper floors. Stitching work was being done, which may have caused some vibrations. The rain could also have triggered the collapse,” Jaspal Singh said.

Nanhe Khan’s wife Rani (24), daughters Nagma (4) and Sania (2) and son Zuber (5) were buried alive along with a factory worker, Shamim (19), the police said.

The injured have been admitted to Guru Tegh Bahadur Hospital. , The injured included three children, as many women and six men, mostly labourers working at the garment manufacturing unit.