New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday inspected the site of the building collapse in Satya Niketan, where rescue operations are underway. Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said that accountability would be fixed and those responsible would not be spared.
Earlier in the day, Sirsa also reached the Satya Niketan building collapse site to take stock of the ongoing rescue operations.
Speaking to reporters, Sirsa said, “Accountability will be fixed. The Chief Minister made it abundantly clear yesterday itself: ‘Heads will roll for sure. No one will be spared.'”
Sirsa said the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) was currently carrying out rescue operations at the site. He said the operation was challenging as the adjacent building was also a pillar-less structure, around 40 to 50 years old and not in good condition.
“Temporary columns have been installed to strengthen the building while rescue efforts continue,” Sirsa said.
Speaking to reporters, MCD Mayor Pravesh Wahi said the rescue operation was currently underway and that the foremost priority was to ensure the safe evacuation of anyone who might still be trapped inside.
Delhi Fire Officer Abhilash Kumar Malik, speaking to IANS, said the fire department received a call about the building collapse at around 1:33 p.m. on Sunday and initiated its initial response within a minute.
“Yesterday at 13:33, we received a call reporting a building collapse. By 13:34, we initiated the initial turnout. After that, when our first responders reached the scene, they informed us about the situation and indicated that a significant number of people might be trapped underneath. Accordingly, we upgraded our response category,” Malik said.
He said 12 fire tenders were subsequently deployed and he also reached the scene shortly thereafter.
“Since then, we have been continuously carrying out the rescue operation. So far, we have pulled out around 12 people. We have now reached near the basement slab, and we expect to clear the basement as well by this evening,” Malik said.
He added that eyewitnesses had indicated that some renovation or construction work was underway in the basement, raising the possibility that labourers could be trapped there.
“Therefore, there is a possibility that some labourers might be in the basement, so that possibility remains,” Malik said.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Traffic Police issued a traffic advisory following the building collapse at Satya Niketan Market in the South Campus area, where rescue and relief operations are underway.
Traffic movement has been affected on routes from Safdarjung Hospital towards Dhaula Kuan, RTR and Benito Juarez Marg.
The traffic police advised commuters to avoid these stretches, if possible, and use alternative routes while following the directions of traffic personnel.
It also urged people not to stop, park vehicles or gather near the incident site, stressing that clear access must be maintained for ambulances and rescue vehicles.
Meanwhile, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has issued a demolition order under Section 348 of the DMC Act for House No. 13 in Satya Niketan, declaring the property dangerous and ruinous.
According to the notice issued on September 6, the owner or occupier has been directed to demolish the property within three days of receiving the order. The MCD warned that if the order is not complied with, it will carry out the demolition and recover the expenses incurred as arrears of property tax.
