At least six people died and seven were injured after a three-storey building collapsed on Wednesday near Sawan Park in northwest Delhi’s Ashok Vihar area, PTI reported. Four of the dead were children.
Officials have not yet ascertained the reason for the building collapse.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident and announced compensation for the victims. “The maintenance of buildings is the responsibility of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, which has not been properly discharged,” said the Aam Aadmi Party leader, adding that compensation will be given to families of those who died and those who were injured in the incident.
Both Kejriwal and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Vijender Gupta visited the injured at the Deepchand Bandhu Hospital, reported The Hindu.
The North Delhi Municipal Corporation in a statement said the building that collapsed was not declared dangerous and the corporation had not received any complaint against it, PTI reported. The civic body, however, said the building was about 20-25 years old and its structure was “weak” and in a “deteriorated condition”.
North Delhi mayor Adesh Gupta, who visited the site, ordered an inquiry into the building collapse and said “strict action” will be taken against those responsible.
Fire and rescue services personnel said they received a call around 9.25 am about the collapse, following which six fire tenders were sent to the spot. Two teams of the National Disaster Response Force were mobilising rescue operations, said an NDRF spokesperson.
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!