I don’t want to die here, Abbu,” the 21-year-old kept repeating until 6.30pm, when the last call came. She was found dead around 9.30pm. New Delhi: Gulafsa, four months pregnant, started calling her father from under the debris of the collapsed building in New Seemapuri at 4pm. “I can’t breathe. Please give me water.
One son and his mother were rescued in a semi-conscious state,” said Kishore, who runs a shop nearby. Locals said the toll could have been higher had the time been different. The collapse of the residential building on a busy market road near northeast Delhi’s Idgah Machhli Mandi Wednesday afternoon triggered panic in the densely populated neighbourhood. Residents pulled out four people, including a child, before authorities arrived. Three people were found dead and several injured till late into the night. Its owner informed police, following which an audit was conducted and authorities ordered its demolition, which started two-three days ago. Most family members were away during the incident. “The elder daughter-in-law had gone to her parents’ house, while the younger daughter-in-law was offering namaz at a local mosque. The father went to a godown. The building fell towards an adjoining idgah, where children frequently play.
Residents also pointed to an adjoining three-storey building that tilted earlier.
The ground floor had the family’s scrap business, said Najma, a relative. The first and second floors of the collapsed building were occupied by the owners, their two married sons and families, while the third floor was rented out.