New Delhi: Two more persons, who were
injured in last night`s building collapse in Old Delhi, died
here today, taking the toll to seven even as rescue operations
continued at the spot of the tragedy for the second day.
Over 25 people were injured in the incident and some more
people are still feared trapped inside the debris after
adjacent buildings collapsed in Chandni Mahal area at around
8 pm yesterday.
"Two more persons have died. The toll has risen to
seven," Sudhir Yadav, Joint Commissioner of Police (Northern
Range), said.
Rescue operations were continuing in the area but narrow
lanes were hindering the pace of the process even as MCD City
Zone Deputy Commissioner Krishna Kumar began his probe into
the incident.
Kumar has been asked to submit his preliminary report by
this afternoon and the final report within three days.
The collapse prompted Delhi government to blame MCD,
saying a tragedy of this kind was "waiting to happen" in the
area as the civic body officials were "never bothered" to take
any precautionary measures despite the dilapidated condition
of the buildings.
Food and Civil Supplies Minister Harun Yusuf said locals
had approached the MCD several times but they never bothered
to take any precautionary measures.
"The MCD is directly responsible for the tragedy. It was
waiting to happen. They never bothered to check the structural
safety of the old buildings. They only know how to make
money," Yusuf said.
The incident came as a stark reminder to last November`s
building collapse in east Delhi`s Laxmi Nagar which claimed
over 70 lives.
PTI
