Two persons were killed and as many injured when two floors of a nearly 80-year-old building in Old Delhi collapsed today.
The deceased were identified as Ramkaran and Manje Lal, both aged between 45-50 years. They, along with their three other family members, were employed as labourers for the renovation of the dilapidated building in Lahori Gate area, a senior police official said.
The incident took place around 11.20 AM today, following which teams of disaster management, fire and police departments were rushed to the spot near the Church Mission Police Post.
The third and the second floor of the residential building collapsed, while the remaining two did not suffer much damage. Also, a family of three who lived on the first floor and one of the labourers escaped unhurt.
The labourers, all natives of a village in Rajasthan, were pulled out from a huge mound of debris. While Ramkaran died on the spot, Lal succumbed to his wounds while being rushed to a hospital. The two others were admitted to Aruna Asaf Ali Hospital, the official said.
A case of negligence causing death was registered in this connection and Ratan Singh, who had employed the labourers for the renovation work, arrested, DCP (North) Madhur Verma said.
A senior officer of North Delhi Municipal Corporation said the collapse was caused by the demolition work undertaken by its owner on the third floor of the building.
The building is located on a plot of 70 sqm in the cloth market area in the Walled City's Lahori Gate.
"Some demolition work was carried out by the owner on the half portion of the third floor which caved in and under the weight of the debris, the second floor of the building also collapsed," he said.
Police said that renovation of any building in the area is forbidden by law. Around 30 buildings have been identified as "dangerous" in the Walled City after a building collapse in Chandni Mahal in 2011, claiming eight lives.
Asha Chaudhary, a resident on the first floor of the building, said, "I am living here for 40 years. My husband was born here, I cannot even think of leaving this place. I protested the renovation but did not file any complaint."
A police official present at the spot said, "Every building is in bad state. Any construction or renovation is dangerous. But, we did not receive any complaint regarding the construction going on here.
