Two loud bangs shook homes and sent residents rushing out into the narrow lanes of Chawri Bazaar on Thursday morning after a three-storey under-construction building collapsed in Gali Sheesh Mahal, trapping labourers beneath the debris.
Two loud bangs shook homes and sent residents rushing out into the narrow lanes of Chawri Bazaar on Thursday morning after a three-storey under-construction building collapsed in Gali Sheesh Mahal, trapping labourers beneath the debris.
The incident took place around 9.48am while construction work was underway on the fourth floor. At least 15 labourers were said to be working at the site, according to locals. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Delhi | Silver Rate in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi | Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Petrol Price in Delhi | Diesel Price in Delhi | CNG Price in Delhi | LPG Price in Delhi Stay updated with the latest Delhi news.
The structure’s third floor gave way as workers were laying the lintel, bringing down the building, officials and residents said. We rescued as many injured people as we could,” said Khaleel, who had just walked past the lane when the building collapsed. Recalling the incident, Naeem, a neighbour, said, “I was having breakfast when I heard a loud noise. Another resident, Md Huzaif, said one labourer managed to save himself by holding on to a pillar as the structure came down. “Neighbours tied ropes and pulled him up to an adjacent house,” he said. It was probably for the first time that the mosque had been shut; even during the pandemic one or two people would come for prayers,” Huzaif said. The building and an adjoining structure belonged to the same family, according to him. “They gave only two days for the lintel to strengthen before beginning construction work on the next floor,” a neighbour claimed. The site was divided between two brothers, locals said. Birender, whose brother Pankaj, a native of Bihar’s Khagaria, was working at the site, said he had been unable to contact him since morning. We have been living in the Mandawli area since,” he said. “I am getting calls from the family members in my hometown now… what do I say to them?” a visibly worried Birender said.
“The two loud bangs were followed by the neighbouring buildings shaking. We rushed to the spot and started clearing the rubble. I rushed downstairs and saw a labourer running from the collapse site. He had injuries on his back, shoulder and hands. The building stood opposite a mosque, prompting concerns among residents about what could have happened had it collapsed during prayers. “We are lucky it did not collapse during namaz. Otherwise, many more people might have been trapped. Locals alleged the building was being constructed in haste ahead of the winter curbs on construction. Kamran Hashmi, a resident, claimed three floors had come up in just over a month. The old structure, which had two floors, was demolished a few months ago to make way for a five-storey building, he alleged. the other’s was under construction While one’s five-storey structure had been completed. Meanwhile, the collapse left families of workers waiting anxiously for word of their loved ones. “I received the news from a relative. When I called him, his phone was switched off. There is no news of him so far. He had been working at the construction site for the past six months. Download the TOI App.