A trail of unheeded warnings, police complaints with photo proof, and blatant violations in the name of “repairs” led to Thursday’s building collapse in Old Delhi’s Chawri Bazar that killed two people.
A report by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) reveals that the civic body had warned the property owner about the structure deteriorating six months back. Two months after the initial notice, police flagged unauthorized construction at the property located in Gali Sheesh Mahal near Ajmeri Gate. The MCD asked the building’s owner, Samiullah, to strengthen the building under supervision of a qualified structural engineer and submit a certificate declaring the structure safe. Consequently, the lintel gave way, bringing down the entire structure.
The first warning came on April 28. On June 15, Delhi Police informed the MCD about unauthorised construction at the same property along with photographs as proof. READ | No Plan, New Roof: Inside Details Of Delhi Building Collapse That Left 2 Dead The MCD report suggests the collapse was triggered when temporary supports beneath the third-floor lintel were hastily removed out of fear that the unauthorized work would be shut down.
Yet, the owner went ahead with fresh construction across two floors before the structure came crashing down.
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