Building mafia under scanner as dilapidated block collapses in Capital, killing ten
Ten people, including five children, were killed and two others seriously injured after a dilapidated four-storey building collapsed on Saturday morning at Tulsi Nagar in North Delhi's Inderlok area.
The collapse once again exposed the nexus between the civic agencies and the building mafia in the Capital.
Seven people, belonging to two families, residing on the third and fourth floors of the building died in the collapse while three relatives living on the second floor also lost their lives in the tragedy.
According to fire officials, a call was received at 8.55 am from some locals of Tulsi Nagar about a building collapse in building number 313/4C in their locality.
"We got a call about the incident at 9 am and after receiving the call, local police along with fire tenders, MCD and CATS immediately rushed to the spot. The building was built nearly 50 years ago," DCP (North) Madhur Verma said, adding the structure was unauthorised.
Narrow lanes leading to the site affected the pace of rescue work.
Mail Today recently carried a report on Delhi's precarious buildings
People were trapped inside the rubble for over 30 minutes as JCB machines had a torrid time in reaching the spot.
The North civic body suspended one assistant junior engineer and a junior engineer for negligence, while a case under Section 304-A (causing death by negligence) of the IPC has been registered against the owner of adjacent building and the contractor - both whom are absconding.
"I believe such incidents are taking place also due to unauthorised constructions. Poor quality material used to build the house weakened its base and it collapsed due to ongoing construction on an adjacent plot," North civic body mayor Yogender Chandolia said.
An initial probe revealed that the collapse was triggered by the construction work in the adjacent plot.
"The four-storey building had an empty 20 square yards plot which was lying vacant. Around two months back, the basement digging began and work continued despite repeated plea by residents.
"The work was being carried out at such a hurried pace that the contractor had constructed a pillar and a wall in no time," a police officer said.
PRO of North civic body Yogendra Singh Mann said an inquiry has been ordered into the Inderlok collapse.
"The Commissioner has ordered an inquiry under the Additional Commissioner (Engineering) of the corporation and errant civic officials in this connection will not be spared, if found guilty of any irregularity," he said.
"A notice was also sent to the neighbouring plot to stop construction earlier. But by continuing the digging work, they have violated the order and hence, due action will be taken against that party if found guilty following the inquiry," Mann said.
Seven people, belonging to two families, residing on the third and fourth floors of the building died in the collapse while three relatives living on the second floor also lost their lives in the tragedy. The building's owner and contractor have been on the run since the incident
CAVE-IN LEAVES TWO DEAD IN CHENNAI
By Press Trust of India
Two persons were killed and nine injured when an under-construction 11- storey building collapsed near suburban Porur in Chennai on Saturday.
Rescue efforts by multiple agencies, including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), were underway at the time of going to press.
A total of 12 people were admitted in the nearby Sri Ramachandra Medical University, where two persons breathed their last, hospital spokesperson P.V. Nallamuthu said.
"One person was in the ICU," he added.
Police confirmed that two men were killed in the mishap.
Earlier, fire and rescue services joint director S. Vijayasekar said that 50 persons were feared trapped in the debris.
Meanwhile, two directors of the construction company which had taken up the housing project were detained for questioning police said, even as Chief Minister Jayalalithaa directed officials to initiate legal proceedings against those responsible for the mishap.
The building collapsed at Moulivakkam in the western suburb, as rains lashed the area and several other parts of the city this evening.
Locals allege there is a nexus between police officers and civic officials
By Mail Today Reporter
Residents of North Delhi's Inderlok allege that there is a nexus between the North Delhi Municipal Corporation and the local police, who together run an illegal construction racket in the area.
Ten people were killed and two others injured when a fourstorey building collapsed in the area on Saturday morning. "The Tulsi Nagar area in Inderlok has been categorised as a slum belt by the civic agency and as per rules, no new construction is allowed in our locality.
But if locals want to renovate their properties or add a room, they then bribe the local MCD junior engineer and also the local beat constable. Both the agency officials and the police take bribe and turn a blind eye to such construction works," claimed Rashid, a resident.
Ten people were killed and two others injured when a fourstorey building collapsed. Pictured, locals look on as rescue work is carried out
He further said that around two months ago, digging had started in the basement and despite repeated requests by residents, the work was not stopped by the contractors and the owner.
Work was being carried out at such a fast pace that the contractor had erected a pillar and a wall in no time.
Rashid was among those fortunate enough to escape the worst.
However, he lost his wife in the tragedy.
Rashid works as a property dealer.
Though officials remained tightlipped about the incident, sources said the building collapse tragedy could have been averted had the corporation officials and the police been more vigilant.
In its pre-monsoon survey for the first four months of the year, the civic agency had established 140 buildings in north Delhi as dangerous.
