Delhi CM suspends Deputy commissioner MCD and four other senior officials

New Delhi, Sept 7: Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has ordered strict action and suspension of senior MCD officials holding them responsible for the collapse of a five-storeyed building at Satya Niketan on Sunday in which seven persons have died and around 11 to 12 persons have been rescued with injuries in serious condition.The owner of the building a senior citizen has also be arrested who was absconding since the collapse took place reveal sources.

According to Delhi Police and NDRF, the building named Hostel Daze, being used as boys paying guest accommodation for PG students studying in Delhi University South Campus colleges near Sri Venkateswara College, collapsed like a pancake around 1.30 pm on Sunday when repair and renovation work was underway in the basement. The nearly 50-year-old structure had a basement plus five floors and was housing students from different states. As Sunday was a holiday majority of the students were inside the PG accommodation and became victims buried under the rubble.

The death toll rose to seven on Monday morning after one more body was recovered during night-long rescue operations by NDRF, Delhi Fire Service, Delhi Police, DDMA and CATS. Deputy Commissioner of Police South-West Amit Goel said 12 people have been rescued so far, many shifted to AIIMS Trauma Centre where three remain admitted including one who underwent limb surgery. An 11-second SOS video recorded by second-year student Aditya trapped under debris went viral.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta visited the collapse site twice and announced a magisterial inquiry, registration of FIR under Sections 105, 290 and 125(a) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for culpable homicide and negligence, and ordered that all buildings with illegal fifth floor in Delhi be sealed immediately. She said, “No one will be spared. Those found responsible for this grave negligence will be held fully accountable under strictest provisions of law.”

On the CM’s directions action has been initiated against five senior officers of MCD South Zone including Deputy Commissioner of MCD South Zone, Executive Engineer, Assistant Engineer and Junior Engineer of building department, holding them responsible for allowing illegal construction and failure to check structural safety of old PG buildings. MCD has also ordered immediate survey of all PG accommodations in Satya Niketan and nearby areas and sealing of unsafe structures.

Delhi Police have formed 10 special teams led by Additional DCP rank officers and issued a Look Out Circular against building owner Hariram Bansal, resident of Gurugram, who is absconding after the incident with raids being conducted in Delhi, Haryana and UP. Lt Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu has called a high-level meeting with DDA, MCD and Police officials, while Delhi High Court has agreed to hear a PIL on the incident today. However the latest news reveals that the owner of the collapsed building has been arrested from Gurugram.