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Another unauthorised construction caves in

Work on: Rescue operations in full swing at the mishap site in Rohini in Delhi on Tuesday.

NEW DELHI: Even before the dust could settle on the site of the tragic building collapse at Brahmpuri that claimed nine lives over the weekend, another unauthorised construction gave way at Rohini here on Tuesday leaving two dead and close to a dozen injured.

The incident took place around 3-15 p.m. in Sector-16 of Rohini when the Delhi Development Authority-constructed Janata Flats collapsed under the impact of the extra unauthorised floor being raised over the weak basal construction, trapping 12 labourers—including three women -- who were working in the premises. The illegal construction comprised an extension of the existing first floor besides the unauthorised second floor.

The building came crashing down when the labourers were renovating the first floor. Some labourers jumped from the first floor and escaped unhurt. However, nearly a dozen were buried under the rubble. Three fire tenders were pressed into service and a disaster management team from Rohini rushed to the site to carry out rescue operations.

The residents had already pulled out some of the victims from the rubble before the rescue team reached the spot. All the injured were taken to Ambedkar Hospital where 25-year-old Vinod was declared dead on arrival and four were stated to be in a critical condition. The critically injured were identified as Kalicharan, Man Singh, Meera and Mankaur. The other injured were discharged after first aid.

Later at night, the body of one more man, identified as Pintoo, was pulled out of the rubble.

The police have registered a case of negligence against house owner Mukesh Garg and building contractor Babbu Kushwaha. The building was allotted by DDA in 1992.

The police had informed the MCD about the ongoing construction earlier this month.

“We have so far informed the civic body about 52 such constructions going on in the area,” said a senior police officer, adding that investigations were on to find out whether the building was being constructed by a property dealer.

Spurred into action, Municipal Commissioner K. S. Mehra suspended Assistant Engineer D. S. Malik, Kapil Garg (hired on contract) and “beldar” Ramesh and said a comprehensive vigilance enquiry would be conducted into the matter.

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