Death toll in Delhi's Chawri Bazar building collapse rises to six; owner and three contractors arrested

The death toll in the collapse of an under-construction three-storey building in Delhi's Chawri Bazar area has risen to six, with all six victims now identified. The building owner and three contractors have been arrested, and the case has been registered as culpable homicide.

Six victims identified, most from Bihar

Police said on November 7 that the six deceased were Sanjeet Kumar, Kishori Sah, Pankaj Sharma, Vipin Ram, Shantu and Dinesh Sah. Five were from Khagaria and Saharsa districts in Bihar, and one lived in Delhi's Fazilpur area. The three-storey building under construction collapsed at about 10:30 a.m. on November 5 at Gali Sheesh Mahal, near Ajmeri Gate, and rescue workers have been recovering bodies from the rubble over successive days.

Owner and three contractors arrested on culpable homicide charges

Police said the building owner, Saimullah alias Ayub, and three contractors — Siraj, Tajuddin and Furkan — have been arrested under Section 105 and other provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The three contractors were picked up in Sirohi village, Faridabad. A preliminary probe by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi found the owner ignored repeated warnings and continued unauthorised construction; the corporation has suspended two engineers, and the Chief Minister has ordered a full inquiry.

(Sources: Indo-Asian News Service; Delhi Police.)