The death toll in the devastating building collapse in Delhi's Chawri Bazaar area has risen to seven after rescuers recovered another body from the debris on Sunday. The latest victim has been identified as 66-year-old Luchhuman Mukhiya, a resident of Jakauli village in Bihar's Darbhanga district.
Officials said the victim's body was shifted to Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP) Hospital for further procedures. Rescue operations have continued at the site following the collapse of a three-storey under-construction building near Chawri Bazaar Metro Station.
The incident took place on Thursday, November 5. According to officials, information about the collapse was received at around 9:50 am from Gali Sitara. Soon after, a massive rescue operation was launched involving the Delhi Police, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Delhi Fire Services and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).
Two bodies were recovered on Thursday, while several others were subsequently pulled out from the rubble. One injured person was also rescued and taken to hospital for treatment.
Police have arrested the building owner, identified as Saimullah alias Ayub, a Delhi resident. Three contractors, identified as Siraj, Tajuddin and Furkan, have also been arrested. They were apprehended from Sirohi village in Faridabad.
According to officials, the construction work being carried out at the building was allegedly illegal, and the structure had been declared unsafe. An FIR dated November 5 has been registered at Hauz Qazi police station against all four accused under Sections 105, 290, 125(a) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The victims included several migrant workers from Bihar. Five of the earlier identified victims, Sanjeet Kumar, Pankaj Sharma, Shantu, Dinesh Sah and Kishori Sah, belonged to Khagaria and Saharsa districts. Another victim, Vipin Ram, was a resident of Delhi's Fazilpur area.
Meanwhile, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi has suspended its Junior Engineer and Assistant Engineer in connection with the incident. An FIR has also been registered against the contractor.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has assured that every possible effort is being made to rescue anyone who may still be trapped under the debris. She has also promised a thorough investigation and strict action against those found responsible.
The tragedy has raised serious questions about building safety, illegal construction and accountability among officials and contractors in the national capital.
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