New Delhi, July 3 (IANS) A couple was killed after the roof of a ground-floor room collapsed at a house in H Block, Jai Prakash Nagar, under the New Usmanpur police station area in northeast Delhi on Sunday night, officials reported on Monday, adding that their child survived the incident.
According to officials and local residents, the roof caved in at around 9:30 p.m. However, the Delhi Fire Services received information about the incident at around 11:30 p.m., following which rescue teams rushed to the spot. The couple was pulled out from the debris and taken to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared them dead. Their child escaped with life.
Residents alleged that the building was in a dilapidated condition and had shown signs of structural weakness for some time.
A neighbour, Sonu, said, “The condition of this house was very poor. The building was in a dangerous state. You can go further down the lane and see that the roofs of some other houses have also collapsed. I had advised them earlier to vacate the room because it was unsafe. I came to know about the incident this morning. I am their neighbour.”
Police and civic authorities have begun an investigation to ascertain the exact cause of the collapse. Officials are also expected to examine whether structural negligence or other safety violations contributed to the tragedy.
The incident has once again highlighted concerns over the safety of ageing and poorly maintained buildings in several parts of the national capital, particularly during the monsoon season when prolonged rainfall often weakens already vulnerable structures.
The tragedy comes just weeks after a similar incident in Delhi. In July, at least three people were killed, and one was injured after an under-construction building collapsed in Rohini Sector 16 following heavy rainfall.
The Delhi Fire Services’ four fire tenders, along with teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and other emergency agencies, were deployed for rescue operations. Local residents also joined the effort, removing bricks, concrete slabs and twisted iron rods with their bare hands after hearing cries for help from beneath the debris.
–IANS
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