Building collapses in Old Delhi: Death toll rises to 6, building owner held

In Old Delhi’s Chawri Bazar area, a three-story building under construction collapsed on Thursday, resulting in the tragic loss of six lives. The death toll has now risen to six, with the latest victims identified as Pankaj Sharma from Bihar’s Khagaria district, Vipin Ram from Delhi’s Mandawali, Shantu, son of Shankar Mukhiya from Khagaria, and Dinesh Sah from Khagaria, Bihar.

The victims were pulled out from the debris on Saturday, taking the total death count to six. The building owner, Saimullah alias Ayub, a resident of Gali Shish Mahal near Ajmeri Gate, has been arrested in connection with the incident. Police suspects that more bodies could be recovered from the rubble, as the narrow lane leading to the building has made the rescue operation challenging.

All three contractors involved in the building’s construction, Siraj, Tajuddin, and Furkan, were also arrested from Haryana’s Faridabad district. The Delhi Police, Delhi Fire Services, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) are working together on the rescue efforts. Locals have pointed out that construction work was being carried out illegally, a matter raised earlier by the Delhi Police.

The building owner’s arrest comes a day after the contractors’ arrest. The investigation is now examining the circumstances surrounding the building’s construction and whether any violations or negligence led to the collapse.