Death toll climbs to 7 in Delhi building collapse

• The death toll in the Chawri Bazar building collapse in Delhi has risen to seven after rescuers recovered another body. The victim was identified as 66-year-old Luchhuman Mukhiya from Bihar

• Police have arrested the building owner, Saimullah alias Ayub, and three contractors in connection with the collapse. An FIR has been registered against them under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita

• The MCD has suspended a junior engineer and an assistant engineer. Police said the construction was illegal and the building unsafe, while chief minister Rekha Gupta promised strict action against those responsible

The death toll in the three-storey building collapse in Delhi’s Chawri Bazar area has risen to seven after rescuers recovered another body from the debris on Sunday, officials said.

The latest victim has been identified as 66-year-old Luchhuman Mukhiya, a resident of Jakauli village in Bihar’s Darbhanga district. His body has been shifted to LNJP Hospital for further formalities.

The building, which was under construction, collapsed on Thursday near Chawri Bazar Metro Station, triggering a massive rescue operation involving the Delhi Police, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Delhi Fire Services and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).

According to officials, the collapse was reported at around 9.50 am from Gali Sitara. Two bodies were recovered on Thursday, while one injured person was rescued and taken to hospital. Rescue teams continued searching the debris for those feared trapped.

Meanwhile, police have arrested the building owner, identified as Saimullah alias Ayub, along with three contractors in connection with the incident. The contractors have been identified as Siraj, Tajuddin and Furkan. All four accused are residents of Delhi.

The arrests were made after the three contractors were apprehended from Sirohi village in Faridabad, officials said.

An FIR dated 5 November has been registered against the four accused at Hauz Qazi police station under Sections 105, 290, 125(a) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Police said the construction work being carried out at the site was illegal and the building had been declared unsafe.

The MCD has also suspended its junior engineer and assistant engineer, while a separate FIR has been registered against the contractor following the collapse.

Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta has assured that every possible effort is being made to rescue those trapped under the debris. She said an investigation was underway and strict action would be taken against those found responsible.

The incident has raised serious questions over construction safety and enforcement of building regulations in the congested Chawri Bazar area.

With IANS inputs