New Delhi: The death toll in the roof collapse incident in north Delhi rose to two on Tuesday even as the NDMC suspended three engineers over the incident and ordered an inquiry into it.
The mishap took place at around 8.30 PM last night in outer Delhi area when the roof of an under-construction godown in Boodhpur area on National Highway-1, which had been laid yesterday, caved in.
"Two persons have died in the incident. The victims have been identified as - Arun (27) and Kedar Nath (50). The rescue operations went on till about 2:30 AM," DCP (Outer Delhi) Vikramjit Singh said today.
Nine labourers were injured in the mishap, police said, adding, they were rushed to nearby hospitals including Harishchandra Hospital in Narela.
An FIR has been lodged in connection with the mishap and further investigation is on, police said.
Meanwhile, the North Delhi Municipal Corporation today suspended three engineers for alleged lapse of duty and ordered an inquiry into the matter.
The three officials of the Building Department of Narela Zone -- Junior Engineer Jitender Khatri, Assistant Engineer RK Jain and Executive Engineer BS Meena -- have been placed under suspension by Municipal Commissioner PK Gupta, a senior NDMC official said.
A senior NDMC official alleged "illegal construction" was going on at the godown.
"The godown comes under the extended 'lal dora' region of the city, it adjoins some farm lands in outer Delhi. Our Junior Engineer had yesterday visited the place and warned against undertaking any unauthorised construction.
"But, by night, more labourers were assembled and work was resumed," the NDMC official claimed.
He said Additional Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner of the area and other senior officials have visited the site.
Godowns are generally located in outer parts of the city.
The term 'lal dora' refers to land which is that part of the village habitation which is used for non-agricultural purposes only and was exempted from the building by-laws and construction norms and related regulations under the Delhi Municipal Act.
Incidentally, the Standing Committee of NDMC had last month sought regularisation of godowns falling in 'lal dora', extended 'lal dora' areas, agricultural land and unauthorised colonies on an "as is, where is" basis.
