A three-storey under-construction building collapsed in Old Delhi’s Chawri Bazar on Thursday morning, with several people feared trapped under the debris, bringing renewed focus on the findings of previous inquiries into building collapses and fires in the Capital.
Following the fire, the government launched a citywide inspection drive involving district administrations, police, the MCD and the fire service to identify illegal and unsafe buildings. The incident comes amid a series of building collapses and fires in Delhi this year, with magisterial inquiries into previous tragedies repeatedly pointing to illegal construction, ignored complaints, regulatory lapses and inadequate emergency preparedness. Reports accessed by Hindustan Times into the Saidulajab building collapse and the Hauz Rani, Palam and Vivek Vihar fires highlighted how warning signs were often visible but enforcement and emergency response mechanisms failed to prevent disasters. Police had also alerted the civic body in March to verify whether construction, including the addition of a fifth floor, complied with the sanctioned plan. The tragedy highlighted how inspections without sustained follow-up can fail to prevent disasters.
The collapse was reported at 9.50 am from Gali Sitara, near the Chawri Bazar Metro station. The March 18 fire in Palam, which killed nine people, exposed gaps in emergency response as well as building safety.
At least six fire units, including water tenders and rescue vehicles, were rushed to the spot, with senior officers supervising rescue operations, officials said. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) had already “booked” the building for violations, but meaningful enforcement action had not followed.
