NEW DELHI: A residential building that was being used as a factory collapsed in Central Delhi’s Bapa Nagar of Karol Bagh during the wee hours of Wednesday, resulting in four deaths.
At least 14 people who received injuries were saved by rescue personnel. The fivestorey building (G+4) suddenly crumbled, trapping multiple people beneath the rubble. Adjacent residential buildings also sustained damage due to the collapse.
A resident stated that roughly 80% of the residential buildings are being used to run sandals and slipper-making factories. This particular 15-year-old building was being used as a sandal-making workshop, with each floor dedicated to it.
Atul Garg, director of Delhi Fire Services, reported that the owner did not have an NOC for running a factory in a residential building.
Machinery, tools were stacked up on every floor of buildingMultiple workers used to work and later sleep there. A lot of machinery and tools were stacked up on every single floor of the building. Most of these workers were sleeping inside when, all of a sudden, the building collapsed.
Police received information regarding the collapse around 9 am and emergency services swiftly responded, with local police, Delhi Fire Services (DFS), and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) joining forces for the rescue operation.
More than a hundred rescue workers from NDRF, DFS and Delhi Police were present at the spot. After a gruelling eight-hour effort, the rescue mission concluded at 5.30 pm, saving 18 individuals who were rushed to nearby hospitals.
DCP (central) M Harsha Vardhan reported that out of those rescued, four persons — Aman (12), Mukim (25), Mujib (18), and Mosin (26), were declared dead at the hospital.
All the deceased individuals are natives of Khatanagar village in UP’s Rampur district. Two others remain critical, 11 are undergoing treatment and one has been discharged after treatment.
The deceased victims were identified as workers in a ladies' slipper manufacturing unit.
DFS officers present at the spot stated that the structure was very old and not firmly built that’s why it collapsed. Neighbours in the locality stated that the structure was weak and there had been incidents of some parts of the building falling due to water seepage.
During the monsoon especially, residents had witnessed certain pieces of walls falling on the residents.
Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has been instructed to demolish and clear the affected area. Authorities are taking legal action under sections 106 (death due to negligence) and 290 (negligent conduct with respect to pulling down, repairing or constructing buildings, etc.) of BNS, as the investigation is going on.
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