Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Nov 6: Delhi Police have arrested three building contractors in connection with the collapse of a three-storey building in Chawri Bazaar, which claimed two lives and left four others injured on Thursday.
The accused were arrested from Village Sirohi in Haryana's Faridabad district. Police have registered a case against them under Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The arrested contractors have been identified as Siraj, son of late Abdul Sakur; Tajuddin, son of Samuddin; and Furkan, son of Abdul Hafis. All three are residents of the Ajmeri Gate area in Delhi. While Siraj and Tajuddin reside in Gali Sitara, Furkan lives in Gali Nal Wali, near Shahganj Chowk.
Meanwhile, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has suspended two junior-level engineers over alleged negligence in connection with the incident. The Deputy Commissioner of the Old Delhi Zone placed an assistant engineer and a junior engineer under suspension with immediate effect.
The suspension orders cited prima facie evidence of serious negligence in the discharge of their duties and stated that further inquiry would be conducted.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has ordered a high-level inquiry into the building collapse and directed officials to register an FIR against the contractor responsible for the construction. She also ordered the immediate suspension of the two MCD engineers.
Gupta visited the accident site in Gali Sitara, near Chawri Bazar Metro station, accompanied by senior officials. She assured strict action against those found responsible for compromising construction safety standards.
The Chief Minister also instructed officials to ensure the best possible medical treatment for the injured and provide immediate ex-gratia assistance to the families affected by the tragedy.
She said the government would take strict action against officials found negligent in enforcing safety regulations. She also urged the public to follow proper safety measures during construction work, warning that negligence could put lives at risk.
The three-storey building collapsed at around 9.50 am in Gali Sitara, prompting a rescue operation involving multiple emergency response teams.
According to an MCD official, construction activity at the building had reportedly been stopped around 15 days before the incident. Workers were engaged in removing the support system beneath the roof when the structure suddenly gave way.
A preliminary assessment indicated that the quality of construction materials and the condition of the building could have contributed to the collapse. The official said the material used was non-engineered and had not set properly.
The exact cause of the collapse and the responsibility of those involved will be determined through the investigation ordered by the Chief Minister.