New Delhi: At least two people were killed after a three-storey under-construction building collapsed in the Chawri Bazaar area of Old Delhi on Thursday morning. Several others are feared trapped under the debris, with rescue teams continuing search operations at the site.

The incident occurred at around 9.50 am in Gali Sitara, near Chawri Bazaar Metro station. Preliminary information indicated that the building was under construction when the structure suddenly gave way, bringing down parts of the building and trapping people beneath the rubble.

At least six fire units, including water tenders and rescue vehicles, were deployed to the location soon after the collapse. Fire department personnel and rescue teams began searching through the debris for survivors and people who might still be trapped.

The number of people inside the building at the time of the incident was not immediately clear. Further details about the casualties, the condition of those rescued and the cause of the collapse were awaited.

Rescue teams deployed after morning collapse

The collapse was reported at approximately 9.50 am, prompting an emergency response in the densely populated Chawri Bazaar neighbourhood.

Six fire units were rushed to Gali Sitara to assist with rescue and relief operations. The teams began examining the collapsed structure and removing debris to locate anyone trapped underneath.

The presence of several people in or around the building at the time of the collapse raised concerns about the possibility of additional casualties. Authorities were working to establish how many workers and other individuals were present when the structure came down.

The narrow lanes and closely packed buildings in Old Delhi make emergency response operations particularly challenging. Rescue personnel have to work carefully while accessing damaged structures and clearing debris without putting people at the site at further risk.

The immediate priority remained locating survivors and recovering anyone trapped beneath the rubble.

Eyewitness describes sudden collapse of building

An eyewitness, Mohd Nayeem, described hearing a loud crashing sound before residents rushed out of their homes to understand what had happened.

He said people initially feared that their own houses were collapsing because of the intensity of the noise.

“This happened around 9:00 or 9:30. We were asleep when we heard a crashing sound. We all got up and rushed outside. We thought our own house was collapsing. When we checked, we realised it was the house being built next door,” Nayeem said.

He added that construction work had been underway at the building for the previous three to four months.

According to Nayeem, three or four lintels had already been cast before the structure collapsed.

“Three or four lintels had already been cast, and they all collapsed at once,” he said.

The eyewitness also recalled that one of the injured labourers had told people at the scene that around three or four workers were present at the building.

Nayeem said residents saw a body being taken out from the site after the collapse.

His account provided an initial indication of the construction activity and the possible presence of workers inside the building. However, the exact number of people at the site and the circumstances surrounding the collapse were yet to be officially established.

Building was under construction for three to four months

According to the eyewitness, construction work at the building had continued for around three to four months before Thursday’s incident.

He said several lintels had already been cast and appeared to have collapsed together when the structure gave way.

The building’s under-construction status is likely to be an important aspect of the investigation into the incident. Authorities will need to examine the condition of the structure, the construction work carried out and whether any safety requirements were followed.

However, the cause of the collapse had not been established at the time of the initial reports. It would be premature to attribute the incident to construction defects, structural weakness or negligence without the findings of an official assessment.

The rescue operation and examination of the damaged building are expected to provide more information about the circumstances leading to the collapse.

Saurabh Bharadwaj questions building safety audits

The incident triggered a political response, with Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Saurabh Bharadwaj criticising the Delhi government and raising questions about building safety measures in the national capital.

Bharadwaj said the Chawri Bazaar collapse was the third such incident in a few months. He questioned the effectiveness of safety audits reportedly conducted by the Delhi government and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).

In a post on X, Bharadwaj wrote:

“Another 3-storey building collapses at Chawri Bazaar/Chandni Chowk. Many feared trapped under debris.

Rekha Gupta’s government and MCD conducted multiple safety audits of all buildings in Delhi, yet buildings keep collapsing. Why?

Safety audits have been ordered repeatedly, but instead of real action, multiple departments collected bribes many times, which is why buildings collapse every month.”

The AAP leader alleged that corruption in government departments had undermined building safety measures and questioned why repeated audit exercises had not prevented such incidents.

His allegations came after the collapse in the congested Old Delhi neighbourhood, where several buildings stand close to one another.

The claims about bribery and the effectiveness of safety audits are allegations made by Bharadwaj. They had not been independently established in the initial information available about the incident.

Questions over safety of buildings in Old Delhi

The collapse has once again drawn attention to building safety in densely populated parts of Delhi, particularly neighbourhoods with closely packed structures and ongoing construction activity.

Chawri Bazaar and the surrounding areas of Old Delhi have narrow streets and buildings located close to one another. Any structural failure can therefore create risks not only for people inside the affected building but also for residents, workers and pedestrians in neighbouring properties.

The incident also raises questions about how under-construction structures are monitored and whether safety requirements are being followed during building work.

Bharadwaj’s criticism has added a political dimension to the incident, with the AAP leader questioning the Delhi government’s building safety audits and the role of the MCD.

A detailed assessment of the collapsed structure would be necessary to establish the reason for the failure. The findings could help determine whether construction-related issues or other factors contributed to the incident.

Casualty figures and cause of collapse awaited

At least two deaths had been reported following the collapse, while several people were feared trapped beneath the debris. Rescue teams, supported by six fire units, were continuing operations to locate anyone who might still be inside the building.

The eyewitness account suggested that a small group of labourers could have been working or present at the site, although the exact number remained unconfirmed.

Authorities were yet to provide a complete account of the casualties or establish what caused the three-storey structure to collapse.

The immediate focus remained on the rescue operation and ensuring that people trapped under the debris could be reached. Further details are expected as emergency teams complete their work and authorities assess the damaged building.