A case of negligence has been registered against the owner of an under-construction building in south Delhi’s Ambedkar Nagar, police said on Friday, a day after the structure collapsed after two laborers were trapped under the debris and were later rescued.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Chandan Chowdhary said that a PCR call was received at Ambedkar Nagar police station at 4.22 pm on Thursday about the incident in Dakshinpuri.
“The third and fourth floors of the building had collapsed. Teams of DFS, NDRF, MCD and SDM (Hauz Khas) reached the spot for the rescue operation. Two persons – Virender Kumar, 28, and Ankul, 22 – were rescued and sent to AIIMS for treatment,” said the DCP.
According to a senior official, 50-year-old Sudhir Pandey, the owner of the building, had not obtained the requisite permission for the construction.
Ms Chowdhary said legal action has been initiated under IPC sections 288 (negligent conduct in relation to demolition or repairs to buildings) and 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) and investigation Is going on
An MCD official said there is no legal provision for the construction work as the building is located in an unauthorized colony. He said that the civic body is preparing to take action under the DMC Act.
Councilor Geeta of the area said that an add-on was being constructed illegally in the building which houses a private school. “Since it is an unauthorized colony, people keep flouting MCD rules and building their properties, many of which are 15-20 years old,” he said.