In a tragic incident that unfolded in the early hours of Saturday, eleven people, including eight members of a single family, lost their lives when a four-storey residential building collapsed in the Dayalpur village area of Mustafabad, northeast Delhi. Eleven others sustained injuries in the mishap.
The collapse occurred around 2:30am in Gali No. 3, a congested locality where buildings are crammed tightly next to each other. According to police officials, the building, constructed on a 60-square-yard plot, was unauthorised and housed three families. At the time of the incident, 22 people were inside the structure.
Delhi Fire Services (DFS) chief Atul Garg confirmed that the first emergency call was received at 2:50am. Nine fire tenders were immediately dispatched to the scene. However, the rescue operation was initially hampered due to the extremely narrow lanes, making access for emergency vehicles difficult.
Despite these challenges, many victims were rescued within the first hour by local residents who rushed in to help. “Neighbours played a crucial role in pulling people out of the rubble before official help could arrive,” said a local witness.
The cause of the collapse is still under investigation. Authorities are also probing whether any recent construction or structural alterations had weakened the already fragile building. Civic officials confirmed that the building was unauthorised and not approved by the municipal body.
Delhi Police have registered a case and are questioning the building owner and other involved parties. The injured are currently receiving treatment at nearby hospitals, and several are reported to be in critical condition.
This tragic incident has once again raised concerns about the growing number of unauthorised constructions in densely populated urban areas like Mustafabad, where building norms are often flouted and regulatory oversight remains weak.
Sources By Agencies
