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Seven people have died after a three storey building collapsed in central Delhi, with rescue teams continuing their search through the debris more than 70 hours after the incident.
Mariyam Adheela
NEW DELHI, India: The death toll from the collapse of an under construction building in Delhi’s Hauz Qazi area has risen to seven after rescuers recovered another body from the rubble today.
The latest victim was identified as a resident of Darbhanga in Bihar. His body was recovered from the collapsed structure near Chawri Bazar and taken to Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital for further procedures.
The building collapsed at around 9:45 a.m. on November 5 while construction work was underway. Rescue operations have continued for more than 70 hours, with emergency personnel still searching the debris for possible survivors.
Police have arrested the building owner, identified as Saimullah, also known as Ayub, along with three contractors named Siraj, Tajuddin and Furkan in connection with the incident.
An investigation has been launched into the collapse, with a case registered at Hauz Qazi Police Station on November 5 under relevant provisions of India’s Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi said no building plan had been approved for the structure, which was allegedly being constructed without the required permissions.
According to the civic body, the building had reached three floors and collapsed while the roof slab was being laid.
Rescue teams from the Delhi Police, National Disaster Response Force and Delhi Fire Services have been involved in the search and rescue operation.
