Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
A day after a three-storey commercial building collapsed in Delhi’s Mehrauli, killing at least six people, AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj alleged that the structure had faced repeated complaints over unauthorised construction and safety concerns, but municipal authorities failed to act.
A multi-agency rescue operation involving the NDRF, Delhi Fire Service, DDMA, Delhi Police, and local volunteers is underway amid fears that more people are trapped under the debris. Teams are deploying heavy machinery, hydraulic cutters, victim-location cameras, and sniffer dogs to search for survivors.
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The structure housed a coaching institute, cafes and offices. Police said the building was reduced to rubble, with debris crashing onto an adjoining tin shed canteen frequented by students preparing for medical entrance examinations.
COMPLAINTS IGNORED, ALLEGES AAP
Addressing a press conference, Bharadwaj claimed that the building was dangerously tilted and that residents of neighbouring properties had raised concerns with the Delhi Police as early as March 21.
According to him, the structure was originally a three-storey building, with illegal construction of additional floors allegedly underway. “The builders were also constructing a basement and a water tank, which caused the building to tilt,” he said.
He alleged that despite complaints, no action was taken. Delhi Police had forwarded a complaint to the MCD for necessary action, but MCD officials, in connivance with the builder, closed the complaint without taking corrective measures, he claimed.
MCD ACCUSED OF MISLEADING HIGH COURT
Bharadwaj said that a tenant living in a neighbouring building had approached the Delhi High Court against the unauthorised construction. During the proceedings, the AAP leader claimed, the MCD submitted a false status report stating that no construction activity was taking place at the site.
“Within a month of this development, the building collapsed,” he said, accusing the BJP-led MCD of shielding the builder and misleading the court.
He also alleged that rescue operations were progressing slowly to conceal the magnitude of the incident and warned that the death toll could rise. “The building collapse and the consequent deaths are entirely a case of corruption and conspiracy,” he added.
The MCD and Delhi Police are yet to respond to Bharadwaj’s allegations.
ACTION TAKEN SO FAR
The MCD has suspended two engineers – Aman Jain and Sudesh Singh Chouhan – on the grounds of dereliction of duties.
An FIR has been registered against the building’s owner, who is on the run. “A case of culpable homicide has been registered and teams are investigating the entire matter,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Anant Mittal said.
Delhi CM Rekha Gupta said strict action would be taken against all unauthorised constructions. “Accountability will be fixed for negligence at every level. No builder, official, or authority is above the law. Violations will not be tolerated,” she wrote on X.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
