Two Killed in Harsh Vihar Building Collapse; Overnight Rescue Operations Conclude

Two individuals, identified as 60-year-old Chanderpal and his 33-year-old son Vijay Kumar, died following the collapse of an old building in the Harsh Vihar area of northeast Delhi. The incident occurred on Sunday evening, and their bodies were recovered by rescue teams on Monday morning.

Incident Details

Authorities received notification of the collapse at A-4, Milan Garden, at 6:46 pm on Sunday. Preliminary reports indicate that the structure, which housed a godown on the ground floor, failed, leading to the collapse of the floor above. Local officials have attributed the incident to an attempt to install a new lintel, which reportedly compromised the building's stability.

Emergency Response

• Agencies Involved: Delhi Fire Service, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), and Civil Defence volunteers.
• Resources: Two fire brigade vehicles, two ambulances, and a crane were deployed to the site.
• Outcome: Victims were transported to GTB Hospital on Monday morning, where they were pronounced dead upon arrival.

Official Investigation

Police have confirmed that legal action is being initiated under relevant provisions of the law. While an investigation into the cause is ongoing, political figures including Kapil Mishra and Ashish Sood visited the site to assess the situation. Mishra has raised concerns regarding the role of illegal construction in similar building failures within the district, citing previous incidents in Seemapuri, Seelampur, Mustafabad, and Babarpur as evidence of systemic issues that require regulatory scrutiny.

The public is advised to monitor official channels and the Delhi Police for further updates regarding the ongoing investigation.