The owner of a building that collapsed in the congested lanes of Old Delhi’s Ajmeri Gate area allegedly carried out unauthorised construction on its upper floors under the guise of repair work and hurriedly removed the shuttering of a newly constructed third-floor lintel, triggering the collapse of the entire structure, a preliminary Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) inquiry has found.
The collapse, which occurred at around 10.30 am on Thursday at property number 4548 in Gali Sheesh Mahal, Gali Shehatara, left two people dead and five others injured. Rescue operations continued for hours as teams searched through the debris amid fears that one or two more people could still be trapped underneath.
The tragedy unfolded in a densely populated neighbourhood where narrow, winding lanes leave little room for emergency vehicles and heavy machinery. The collapsed building, a ground-plus-three-floor structure spread over approximately 45 square yards, stood at the end of a dead-end lane accessible only on foot through an approach barely three feet wide.With no access for motorised vehicles, rescue personnel had to negotiate the narrow passage to reach the site and clear the rubble.
The MCD deployed at least 30 personnel from its zonal office, along with machinery, to assist in the operation. Floodlights were also installed to ensure that debris removal could continue during the night.
According to the preliminary inquiry, the civic body had issued an advisory to the owner, Samiullah, on April 28, warning him about the deteriorated condition of the building and asking him to undertake necessary strengthening and corrective measures under the supervision of a qualified structural engineer.The owner was also directed to submit a structural stability and safety certificate issued by an MCD-empanelled structural engineer.
The advisory, however, had specifically clarified that it did not amount to permission for reconstruction.The MCD inquiry found that instead of restricting the work to the prescribed repairs and safety measures, the owner allegedly undertook fresh construction on the second and third floors without obtaining the necessary permissions.
The civic body had received information from Delhi Police on June 15 about unauthorised construction activity at the property. Photographs accompanying the communication indicated that repair and maintenance work was being carried out there.
An inspection was subsequently conducted, during which the owner was found undertaking repair work. However, no further complaint about fresh construction or complete demolition of the existing structure was received by the MCD, according to its report.
The preliminary findings suggest that the shuttering of the third-floor lintel was hurriedly removed, allegedly due to apprehension of restrictions on the ongoing construction. The third-floor lintel subsequently collapsed, triggering the collapse of the entire building, the report said.
The MCD has also pointed to discrepancies in the property’s tax records. According to the Property Tax Department, Samiullah deposited Rs 75,114 on April 22 under the Self-Assessment (SUNIYO) Scheme, covering six financial years from 2020-21 to 2025-26.In his self-assessment return, the property was declared as a ground-plus-four-floor structure with a covered area of approximately 80 square metres, considerably more than the approximately 45-square-yard plot mentioned in the collapse report.
The civic body has alleged that the declaration of additional floors in the property tax assessment indicated a possible intention to mislead authorities and take advantage of protections available under special laws.Taking cognisance of the alleged lapses, the MCD has placed the concerned Junior Engineer and Assistant Engineer under suspension with immediate effect, pending an inquiry into their role
It has also submitted a written complaint to the Delhi Police seeking registration of an FIR against the owner for the alleged unauthorised construction.Meanwhile, the civic body has initiated a survey of adjoining buildings to assess their structural safety and facilitate audits by qualified structural engineers empanelled with the MCD.
Officials have also been directed to identify nearby properties where unauthorised construction is underway and take action under the applicable rules.As rescue teams continue to clear the debris, the incident has once again brought into focus the dangers posed by unauthorised construction and structural alterations in the densely packed neighbourhoods of Old Delhi, where buildings stand close together and even emergency access can become a major challenge.
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