The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on Sunday ordered the immediate sealing of illegal buildings exceeding four floors in the national capital following the collapse of a five-storey building in South
Delhi’s Satya Niketan that killed six people.
The civic body has also ordered action against officials found responsible for allowing illegal constructions to come up. Delhi Mayor Pravesh Wahi said officials found guilty of negligence would face stringent action, including immediate dismissal.
“The culprits of the Satya Niketan building incident in Delhi will not be spared under any circumstances,” Wahi said in a post on X, adding that the orders would be implemented with immediate effect.
The action comes after a nearly 30-year-old five-storey building being used as a paying guest accommodation for students collapsed in Satya Niketan on Sunday afternoon.
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Illegal Structures Under Scanner
The collapsed building was reportedly located at Shop No. 14, where an allegedly illegal four-storey structure had been constructed. Similar construction violations have also been reported at adjoining Shop Nos. 13 and 12.
The premises have been vacated, while preparations are reportedly underway to demolish another structure in the vicinity.
The collapsed building was a ground floor-plus-five (G+4) structure constructed over around 55 square yards in a resettlement colony where permission was originally granted only for a G+1 unit, according to a senior MCD official.
The MCD has also evacuated tenants from an adjoining building housing a women’s PG and sealed the premises.
Rescue Operation Underway
The building collapsed at around 1.30 pm while repair work was reportedly being carried out on its ground floor. Police have booked building owner Hariram and others on charges including culpable homicide, negligence in upkeep of a structure and endangering the safety of others.
Police said the building was being used as a PG and alleged that renovation work was underway on the ground floor when the structure collapsed.
“The building was a PG. It is alleged that renovation work was being undertaken at the Ground Floor, which led to the collapse of the building. Multiple teams have been formed to trace the alleged persons,” the police said.
Also Read: Satya Niketan Building Collapse: Eyewitness Says Basement Work, Flooding May Have Triggered Collapse
Ten injured people were taken to the AIIMS Trauma Centre. In a statement, AIIMS said four people were brought dead, while another patient who was critically injured later succumbed to injuries. Three patients remained admitted and were undergoing treatment, while another injured person was discharged after observation.
Two NDRF teams comprising around 70 personnel, along with a canine squad, were deployed for the rescue operation. Oxygen cylinders were also lowered into the debris to help those who may have been trapped underneath.
The Delhi Fire Services, Delhi Police, MCD, CATS, Civil Defence and Delhi Disaster Management Authority were involved in the rescue operation.
CM, Amit Shah Take Stock
Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, the Delhi Police Commissioner and the NDRF Director General to take stock of the rescue efforts.
“The local administration and the NDRF are conducting intensive rescue operations in close coordination. The injured are being provided with all necessary medical assistance. Praying for the speedy recovery of all those injured,” Shah said.
Gupta visited the collapse site and met the injured at the AIIMS Trauma Centre. Her office said the government was in touch with the families of the injured students and providing them necessary support, while the chief minister vowed strict punishment for those found guilty.
Locals have raised concerns over the condition of other buildings in the congested neighbourhood, where several residential structures have reportedly been converted into PG accommodations. Some residents also claimed that water had accumulated in the basement after days of rain and may have weakened the building’s foundation.
With inputs from PTI
