Ten people including three women and five children were killed and two others injured when a 50-year-old dilapidated four-storeyed building collapsed today in a congested area in north Delhi, police said.
The building was occupied by 14 persons of four different families who were residing on separate floors.
"Ten people including five children and three women have been killed in the building collapse while two persons have been injured," said Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) Madhur Verma.
Two escaped unhurt as they had left early for work, police said.
The deceased have been identified as Asif (10), Adiba (14), Rehan (7), Mohammad Izaz (24), Mohammad Uzale (22), Imtiyaz (24), Rubina (30), Sahana (28), Sabba (5) and Abdul Aadib (7). The injured who are under treatment at Bara Hindu Rao hospital are Abdul Rashid (38) and Mohammad Naeem (39). The lucky two were Pappu and Tanveer.
Police have registered a case of causing death by negligence against the owner of the adjacent building as it has emerged that the foundation of the building which collapsed was weakened due to the digging on his plot.
"Based on the statement of Abdul Rashid who owns the building and is also one of the injured a case under section 304A was registered at the Sarai Rohilla police station against the adjacent building owner. The owner and the contractor of the adjacent building identified as Javed is currently absconding," said Verma.
An assistant engineer and a junior engineer of NDMC's Karol Bagh zone have been suspended, NDMC PRO Yogendra Singh Mann said, adding that an inquiry has been ordered into the incident in Inderlok area.
"The Commissioner has ordered an inquiry into the incident under Additional Commissioner (Engineering) of the corporation and errant civic officials in this connection will not be spared, if found guilty of any irregularity," he said.
Meanwhile, Congress and Aam Admi Party used the opportunity to hit out at the BJP-led municipal corporations over the building collapse in north Delhi and demanded that the Lt Governor should order a "probe" into the incident.
