One killed, three hurt as two-storey building collapses in Delhi

NEW DELHI: A labourer was killed and three others were hurt on Friday when a two-storey building collapsed against the backdrop of demolition in central Delhi's Karol Bagh area.

Key points

• Another one, Mohammad Ayub sustained a head injury and fracture of the right hand.
• The incident was additionally noted to the Karol Bagh police station.
• The structure is remarked to have suddenly collapsed as the razing work was being carried out, trapping labourers in it.
• Police, along with fire management personnel, ensured that the injured persons were shifted to hospital for treatment.

After which two fire tenders were rushed to the spot to carry out rescue operations, according to the Delhi Fire Services (DFS), it was alerted regarding the incident at 11.49 am on Friday.

Meanwhile, the incident was additionally noted to the Karol Bagh police station. It immediately dispatched a team to assist in the rescue efforts. A preliminary inquiry into the matter has discovered that the building was being demolished by a private contractor engaged by the owners without obtaining the requisite permission from the agency concerned, a police officer stated.

Notably, the structure is remarked to have suddenly collapsed as the razing work was being carried out, trapping labourers in it. Four labourers were affected in the incident. One of them, identified as Sheikh Shamshad, succumbed to his injuries. His body has been shifted to the mortuary at LHMC Hospital.

Another one, Mohammad Ayub sustained a head injury and fracture of the right hand. He was referred to Dr RML Hospital and his condition remained critical at the time of filing this report. While Rafik-Ul sustained minor injuries and subsequently left for his residence, sheikh Saidul sustained limb injuries and is undergoing treatment at Jeevan Mala Hospital.

Police, along with fire management personnel, ensured that the injured persons were shifted to hospital for treatment. The building owners and the contractor have been detained for an inquiry. Further legal action under appropriate provisions was initiated after the verification of facts and assessment of the circumstances leading to the collapse, police remarked. Cops are additionally questioning the eyewitness.

Taken together, the developments around one killed, three hurt as two-storey building collapses in Delhi point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.