The Delhi police on Wednesday invoked charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder in northeast Delhi’s Harsh Vihar building collapse case that killed two persons, a senior police officer said after HT reported a crucial one-hour delay by the owner in alerting emergency services.
The building owner, Manoj Kumar, who allegedly locked the gate and fled after the collapse, was arrested. The victims’ family also alleged that the delay cost the two men their lives. She alleged that rescue work did not begin until around 9pm, when an earthmover arrived. Police are investigating the respective roles of the building owner and the contractor responsible for the construction work, including whether negligence in carrying out the work contributed to the collapse and the deaths. The search for the absconding contractor is underway.
Police said the structure collapsed around 5:45 pm on Sunday at Milan Garden on Sewa Dham Road, an unauthorised colony. The owner’s son Khushwinder Kumar made the first PCR call only at 6:46 pm and local residents were allegedly misled into believing that no workers were trapped inside. Pramod Sharma, who runs a restaurant opposite the building, said the collapse occurred around 4.30pm-4.45pm while he was cooking. “Chanderpal ate at my shop around 1.30pm and went to the site. Around 4.30-4.45pm, the building collapsed. Their 19-year-old son, Yash, received a call from a friend who had heard about the incident, following which Anita rushed to the site.
Deputy commissioner of police (northeast) Rahool Alwal told HT that Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita had been added to the first information report (FIR), which previously pressed charges for causing death due to negligence.
Police said the main contractor who was building the structure is on the run. The police only came there about two hours later, and the rescue operation started after 9pm when the NDRF arrived,” he said. Vijay’s wife, Anita, said the family learnt about the collapse around 6pm through an acquaintance living in Milan Garden. Anita said she also called the police after reaching the spot but could not recall the exact time.
