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Residential Building Collapse in Delhi Claims Lives

At least 11 individuals have tragically lost their lives, including several members of the same family, following the collapse of a residential building in Delhi, India. This devastating incident has raised significant concerns about building safety protocols in the area.

Reports indicate that the building fell at approximately 3 a.m. local time on Saturday, April 19, with The Independent noting that 22 people were present inside during the incident. Surveillance footage from a nearby location captured the moment of the collapse, which generated a massive cloud of dust across the area.

According to local news outlet NDTV, emergency responders and local volunteers worked relentlessly through the night using cranes and thermal imaging technology to locate those trapped beneath the debris.

One bereaved relative shared his heartbreak, stating, “I’ve come from the hospital. The building was eight to 10 years old, and construction work was ongoing. The entire foundation failed. Two school-age boys are gone, and all our valuables are buried beneath the rubble.”

Another resident expressed frustration, claiming, “We had reported that the building was shaking after the recent rains, but no action was taken.” This sentiment highlights concerns about the monitoring and maintenance of building structures in the area.

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi confirmed that the four-story structure did not comply with essential load-bearing safety standards. Authorities indicated plans to assess other buildings in the vicinity, suspecting potential structural weaknesses.

Efforts to reach officials from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Delhi Fire Services, and the National Disaster Response Force for further information on April 20 were met with silence.

An eyewitness living nearby recounted the dramatic moment of the collapse, describing how he was abruptly awakened and likened the experience to an “earthquake.” He hurried to his terrace where he noticed a dense cloud of dust obscuring the view of the collapsed building. “Then someone informed me that it had fallen,” he said, sharing the distress of having relatives inside.

In response to this calamity, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences on April 19 via a post on X, stating that he was “saddened by the loss of lives” and noted that local authorities were providing assistance to those affected by the tragedy.

Source
people.com