A four‑storey under‑construction building in Rohini’s Sector 16 collapsed, raising the death toll to three, including the owner’s husband and a construction worker. Rescue teams have nearly finished operations, while investigators probe the cause and an FIR has been lodged against unknown persons.
Delhi’s north‑west neighbourhood of Rohini witnessed a tragic collapse on Wednesday night when a four‑storey building under construction gave way, killing three people. Rescue crews worked through the night, pulling two additional bodies from the rubble, bringing the death count to three.
Incident Overview
The structure, which had been under construction for about a year, was nearing completion. According to officials, the building comprised two Delhi Development Authority (DDA) flats, each measuring roughly 26 sq m. The victims have been identified as Ram Dua, 62, husband of the property owner Manju Dua; Kafe Mohammad (alias Nurul), 24, a site labourer; and Ram Kishan, 42, a biker who happened to be passing by when the collapse occurred.
Families in Mourning
Relatives of the deceased waited at Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital’s mortuary for the bodies after post‑mortem examinations. Kafe’s mother, Safiya Begum, travelled from Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh, after learning of the accident at 1.30 a.m. She recounted that her son had joined the site only two days earlier, while his cousin Saddam (alias Ravi), 32, survived the incident.
Investigation and Legal Action
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Rohini) Shashank Jaiswal confirmed that rescue operations are almost over, but debris removal continues. The police have registered an FIR under Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) against unknown persons. The cause of the collapse remains under investigation.
Construction Safety in Delhi – A Growing Concern
Delhi has seen a spate of building failures in recent years, often linked to lax enforcement of construction norms, sub‑standard materials, and inadequate supervision. Experts argue that without robust, real‑time monitoring and stricter penalties, such incidents are likely to recur. The city’s authorities are under pressure to tighten approvals, enhance on‑site inspections, and ensure that contractors adhere to safety standards.
Beyond the immediate tragedy, the Rohini collapse underscores a systemic issue: the gap between rapid urban development and the mechanisms that safeguard human life. It serves as a stark reminder that every shortcut in building protocols can have fatal consequences.
