Rescuers pulled four more bodies from the debris of the collapsed building in old Delhi’s Chawri Bazar on Saturday, taking the death toll to six, and police announced they had arrested the building’s owner.
MCD received police alert months before the building collapsed
“He had been living in the village for nearly three years but came here just two months ago after a dispute in the family. He was trying to get back on his feet by working as a daily-wage labourer. MCD acknowledged receiving the letter. A later inquiry by the civic body alleged that the owner had used that advisory as cover to clandestinely build fresh second and third floors without the requisite permissions. The narrow lanes of the walled city kept heavy machinery, including JCB excavators, from reaching the site. Fire personnel and other rescue teams have had to clear much of the debris by hand. Residents of neighbouring buildings were evacuated after police warned that one of the adjoining structures was in a precarious condition.
Kumar, who knew Dinesh, said he was 48 and is survived by his wife, his mother, two sons and three daughters, none of the children yet married.
Deputy commissioner of police (Central) Rohit Rajbir Singh said Vipin Ram, Dinesh Sah and Shantu were all in their late 40s and originally from Bihar . His family depended on him,” he said. It said a subsequent inspection found the owner carrying out repairs that its maintenance department had advised in April.
Delhi Police had alerted the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to the construction nearly five months before the collapse.
The first of the day’s bodies, recovered around 3am, was identified as Pankaj Sharma, whose family had been searching for him since the collapse. Rescuers found the body of Shantu in the afternoon and sent it by ambulance to Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital. The bodies of Vipin Ram and Dinesh Sah were recovered in the evening. Rescue operations were still under way at the time of filing. The owner was identified as Saimullah alias Ayub, a resident of Gali Sitara near Ajmeri Gate.
