Building collapses in Jama Masjid area; 8 killed, 25 injured


NEW DELHI: At least eight people were killed and 25 injured on Tuesday evening when a 70-year old three-storey building collapsed near Old Delhi's Jama Masjid, prompting Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to initiate an inquiry into the incident and on dilapidated structures in the area.

The building collapse, which was reported from Chandni Mahal area at around 8pm, came as a stark reminder to last November's building collapse in east Delhi's Laxmi Nagar which claimed over 70 lives. 

Police said five persons including four women were brought dead to Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narain Hospital while 25 others who suffered head and limb injuries are undergoing treatment.

A senior fire brigade official said first an under-construction building collapsed which had an impact on the multi-storey building leading to its collapse.

However, some locals claimed that the occupants of the ill-fated building were fixing a door when the incident took place. They claimed that while the work was on, the beam which was supporting the building collapsed, leading to the tragedy.

The locality where the incident took place is dotted with similar "old and dangerous" buildings. Narrow lanes leading to the disaster site has affected the pace of rescue work as people found it difficult to reach the site.

Yogender Chandolia, chairman of the civic body's standing committee, said MCD Commissioner K S Mehra has been asked to enquire into the incident and submit a report in Wednesday's standing committee meeting. Chandolia said there were several old and dilapidated buildings in the area.

Rescue workers worked hard to remove the debris in order to locate survivors. A large number of locals gathered at the spot and helped in rescue work.

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