Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Oct 7: Several people are feared trapped after the front portion of a four-storey building collapsed in northeast Delhi's Seemapuri area on Wednesday, October 7, officials said. Locals rescued two children who were buried under the debris.
The building stands on a 25-yard plot, with shops on the ground floor and residential units on the upper floors. The Delhi Fire Service received a call about the collapse at around 3.30 pm and rushed fire tenders to the spot.
A Delhi Fire Service official said the search and rescue operation was underway and some people could still be trapped under the debris. Delhi Police and fire brigade personnel were conducting rescue operations at the site.
Following the collapse, the Delhi Traffic Police issued an advisory, saying traffic movement had been affected around Seemapuri Gol Chakkar, DLF Bhopura and adjoining roads. Commuters were advised to avoid the area if possible and not stop, park or gather near the site, so that ambulances and rescue vehicles could move freely. Motorists were also asked to follow directions from traffic personnel.
The incident comes a month after the Satya Niketan building collapse in Delhi on September 6, in which seven people were killed and several others injured. The five-storey building housed paying guest accommodation for Delhi University students, and repair work was reportedly underway in its basement when it collapsed.
Following the Satya Niketan incident, Delhi Police arrested 81-year-old Hariram, the PG owner and a retired Indian Air Force sergeant. His 75-year-old wife Urmila and 52-year-old son Mahesh were also arrested in connection with the case.
Five Municipal Corporation of Delhi officials were also suspended following the incident. They included Superintending Engineer Ranvir Singh, Executive Engineer (Building) Lalit Kumar Goel, Assistant Engineer (Building) Sunil Chauhan and Junior Engineer (Building) Ashish Kumar, all from the South Zone. The officials were suspended under the DMC Services (Control and Appeal) Regulations, 1959, while remaining entitled to subsistence allowance as per rules.