Two feared trapped after building collapse in Delhi’s Harsh Vihar

Two men, aged 60 and 36, are suspected to be trapped after roof slabs collapsed during construction in north-east Delhi’s Harsh Vihar on Sunday evening, police said.

The collapse occurred in Milan Garden as an additional floor was being built on an old, single-storey house on a 200-square-yard plot, said an officer.

A resident said a newly laid slab gave way over an older slab.

The Delhi Fire Services received a call at 6.46 p.m. and sent five fire tenders. Teams from the National Disaster Response Force, police, Civil Defence and Delhi Disaster Management Authority joined the rescue efforts.

“Two people are suspected to be trapped, but there is no confirmation yet,” Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Sandeep Lamba said.

No casualties had been reported till the time the report went to the press.

“Their family members suspect that they are trapped as their mobile phones are not reachable,” the officer said.

Some relatives alleged that rescue work was slow and tried to remove the debris themselves.

Later in the evening, Ministers Ashish Sood and Kapil Mishra also visited the building collapse site.

Police said, the cause of the collapse and the status of construction approvals are yet to be established.

(With inputs from PTI)