Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Aug 16: The tragic roof collapse at a dargah’s dwelling unit within the Humayun’s Tomb complex has claimed seven lives, as rescue efforts concluded and authorities registered a case of negligence.

The Delhi Police confirmed on Saturday that the deceased include three women and four men. Preliminary findings suggest the collapse was triggered by a compromised foundation and prolonged water seepage in the single-storey structure adjacent to the Dargah Patte Wali.

A First Information Report (FIR) has been registered at the Nizamuddin Police Station under IPC sections related to causing death by negligence, endangering human life, and negligent construction practices.

The victims were identified as Moinuddin, Anita Saini, Swaroop Chand, Meena Arora, Monu Arora, and Arif. A seventh deceased has not yet been officially named. Four individuals — Mohammad Shameem, Aryan, Gudiya, and Rafat Parveen — are undergoing treatment at AIIMS Trauma Centre, Lok Nayak Hospital, and RML Hospital.

According to fire department officials, the incident occurred around 3:51 p.m. on Friday. Four fire tenders and 25 personnel were dispatched to the site. Teams from the NDRF, DDMA, CATS ambulance services, and local police joined in the rescue and evacuation efforts.

District Magistrate Dr. Sarvan Kumar confirmed that the deceased hailed from different parts of Delhi, including Nizamuddin, Zakir Nagar, and Vasant Kunj Enclave. A mother-daughter duo from Vasant Kunj was among those killed, and one injured man is from Nawada in Bihar.

Officials revealed that the structure collapsed while several people had gathered to meet the dargah’s imam, known for preparing religious amulets (taveez). The imam was inside the building at the time but survived.

An eyewitness who helped in early rescue efforts said he heard a loud crash and rushed to find people trapped beneath the rubble. Most victims were pulled out by emergency services, though six died en route to hospitals.

This incident follows two other weather-related tragedies in Delhi on Thursday — a man died when a tree fell on him in Kalkaji, and two children were killed in a wall collapse in Basant Nagar.

Authorities continue to investigate the structural failure, and further action may follow based on forensic and engineering assessments.