Two dead as under-construction building collapses near Old Delhi's Chawri Bazaar; AAP raises audit allegations

Two labourers were killed when the three-story building under construction in Gali Sattara, Sheesh Mahal, close to the Chawri Bazaar Metro station, collapsed on the morning of Thursday. Emergency teams were dispatched to the area after the distress call was received at 9:50 AM, starting a multi-unit rescue operation in such a thickly populated area.

Heavy response team of fire services gearing up for narrow lanes

The first response team of the Delhi Fire Services has deployed five special machines for the purpose, and the incident is in the jurisdiction of the Paiwalan police station.

Fleet mobilisation: As part of fleet mobilization, the first responders have dispatched two water tenders, one water bowser, Quick Response Vehicle (QRV), and Incident Response Team (IRT).

Reinforcements: The fire officials have later sent two more tenders and Assistant Divisional Officer (ADO) Rajesh Shukla to manage ground operations with Station Officer (SO) Bhupender Sharma and SO DK Rai.

Rescues assessments: By 10:15 AM, site in charge confirmed that roof slabs of several floors have collapsed together, causing workers to be trapped under heavy slabs of concrete.

Eyewitness describing the collapse

Local residents in Gali Sattara described a violent crashing sound that shook adjacent homes during the morning hours.

"We were asleep when we heard a loud crash and ran outside thinking our own house was collapsing," said local resident Mohd Nayeem. "The house next door had been under construction for 3 to 4 months. Three or four newly cast lintels collapsed all at once, trapping the labourers working inside."

Political clash erupts over civic safety audits

The fatal collapse triggered sharp political reactions regarding municipal governance and structural enforcement across the capital.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Saurabh Bharadwaj criticised the Delhi government and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), alleging that routine safety audits have failed to prevent recurring structural disasters.

In a public statement on X, Bharadwaj claimed that regulatory oversight has degenerated into selective enforcement and systemic bribery across multiple administrative departments.

Civic authorities have not yet issued an official response to the political allegations as investigation teams assess the structural cause of the collapse.

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