Two dead as three-storey building under construction collapses in Old Delhi’s Chawri Bazar

New Delhi: Two people died after a three-storey building under construction collapsed in Old Delhi’s Chawri Bazar area on Thursday morning. One injured person was rescued, while several others were feared trapped under the debris.

The collapse occurred in Gali Sitara, close to Chawri Bazar Metro station, at around 9.50am. Six fire service units were rushed to the location after receiving information about the incident. Rescue teams are searching the site for anyone who may still be trapped under the rubble.

Videos circulating on social media show a section of the building reduced to rubble in a narrow lane. NDRF personnel can be seen clearing debris and conducting search operations. In another video, rescuers are seen recovering a body from the site, while residents help move vehicles to make way for emergency services.

Local resident, Mohd Nayeem, said the building had remained unoccupied during its construction over the past three to four months. He said only labourers were present inside when the structure collapsed. The property owner, according to Nayeem, lives with his family in rented accommodation elsewhere, NDTV reported.

The circumstances surrounding the collapse, including the condition of the structure and the nature of construction work underway, are yet to be established.

The incident follows two other big building collapses in Delhi in recent months, putting the spotlight again on the safety of structures being built or renovated.

As RNA Media previously reported, a building under construction in Harsh Vihar collapsed, killing a father and son, Chanderpal, 60, and Vijay Kumar, 33. Both were involved in the construction work at Milan Garden on Sewa Dham Road. The structure was being extended with an additional floor. Rescue teams recovered the two men from the debris, but they were declared dead at a hospital.

Another major incident occurred on September 6, when a five-storey paying guest accommodation in Satya Niketan collapsed during renovation work. Seven people, including five students, died in the incident. Police subsequently arrested members of the property-owning family, a PG operator and a labour contractor. The municipal corporation of Delhi also suspended five officials amid an investigation into possible lapses in building safety and supervision.

The Chawri Bazar collapse adds to a series of such incidents in the capital, bringing construction practices and structural safety back into focus. The exact number of people trapped is not yet known and more details are expected as rescue work at the site is underway.