Delhi Building Collapse: Two Killed as Three-Storey Structure Falls in Chawri Bazaar, Probe Ordered

At least two people were killed after a three-storey building collapsed in Chawri Bazaar, one of the busiest commercial areas of Old Delhi, on Thursday morning. Several others were feared trapped beneath the debris, prompting a large-scale rescue operation involving the Delhi Fire Services, police personnel and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). The incident has once again raised concerns over construction safety and the condition of buildings in the densely populated parts of the national capital.

The collapse occurred at around 9:50 am in Gali Sitara, close to the Chawri Bazaar Metro station. According to initial reports, the building was under construction when the structure suddenly gave way. The incident reportedly took place while concrete slabs were being poured, causing the building to collapse and leaving workers and people in the vicinity trapped under the rubble.

Emergency services rushed to the location after receiving information about the incident. Fire department personnel, Delhi Police teams and disaster response workers began removing debris and searching for survivors. Rescue operations continued throughout the day as authorities attempted to establish whether more people remained trapped beneath the collapsed structure.

The narrow lanes and congested layout of Old Delhi created additional challenges for emergency personnel. The limited accessibility of the location made it difficult to bring heavy machinery and rescue equipment directly to the site. Officials had to coordinate efforts carefully to clear the rubble and reach those who might have been trapped.

The incident prompted immediate action from the Delhi government and municipal authorities. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) suspended a junior engineer and an assistant engineer in connection with the collapse, citing alleged negligence. The action came amid questions over whether construction regulations and safety requirements had been properly followed at the site. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta directed officials to conduct an inquiry into the incident and ordered that an FIR be registered against the contractor. The administration also instructed the concerned departments to examine the circumstances surrounding the collapse and determine whether any violations had contributed to the disaster.

The building collapse has renewed attention on the risks associated with construction activities in densely populated neighbourhoods. Several areas of Old Delhi have ageing structures, narrow streets and buildings undergoing renovation or reconstruction, making compliance with safety regulations particularly important. As rescue efforts continued, the focus remained on locating anyone still trapped beneath the debris and establishing accountability for the deadly collapse.