Part of building wall crashes onto neighbour’s courtyard in upscale Gurugram society

The residential building has five floors and the construction of an additional floor is under way. No one was hurt in the incident.

A portion of a wall under construction on the 6th floor of a building fell on the ground floor courtyard of an adjacent house in DLF Phase 3 on Tuesday. The residential building has five floors and the construction of an additional floor is under way.

The incident triggered panic in the society. (HT Photo)

No one was hurt in the incident.

Anil Jain, the owner of the building, rushed to the spot after getting a word of the incident from the police. The incident took place around 4.30pm. Jain was evasive when asked if he had permission to build an additional floor.

“My building is no exception. Every building has an additional floor. I will enquire how the bricks fell off. I have already had a word with my neighbour in the light of the incident,” Jain said.

The incident triggered panic in the society, as residents took to social media to share pictures of chunks of concrete that fell into the ground floor courtyard of adjacent house owned by Dheeraj Talwar.

Talwar lodged a police complaint, claiming damage to his courtyard, and also informed the district town planning department (DTP) and the DLF management of the incident. Talwar’s house has two-and-a-half floors.

There are more than 2,000 plots, of 60 yards each, at U Block of DLF 3. DTP has allowed only three floors, but a majority of plot owners have built more than five floors.

Talwar said, “My child was in the courtyard just two minutes before incident. I shudder to think what would have happened had he been there when the portion of the wall fell off. I have lodged a complaint with the police.”

A police team that investigated the matter said that both the neighbours decided to settle the matter amicably.

Naresh Kumar, ASI, who reached the spot for investigation, said, “Both the neighbours appeared before us at DLF 3 police station on Wednesday and agreed to end the matter amicably. However, I have informed my seniors about some locals raising additional floors without permission. This is illegal and we have raised this issue with the authority concerned from time to time, seeking appropriate action.”

Some residents said they are planning to set up a meeting with DTP officials to discuss the issue of illegal construction.

Navin Rangera, a resident, said, “Illegal constructions have been a nightmare for us. They draw water and electricity for construction purposes by resorting to unfair means. We have written to DTP enforcement time and again in this regard. This incident has yet again exposed the negligence of authorities when it comes to enforcing regulations.”

A team of officials led by VP Sehrawat, district town planner, enforcement, visited the spot on Wednesday.

“I have summoned Jain to my office. I will take action against in this regard. I will also write to all officials concerned to disconnect sewer, electricity and water connections of all building owners who have defaulted on maintenance fees,” Sehrawat said.