Father and Son Killed as Slabs Collapse During Construction in Delhi’s Harsh Vihar

A father and son died after two slabs of a building collapsed at Milan Garden in Harsh Vihar, northeast Delhi, on Sunday evening. The two were pulled out of the debris during an overnight rescue operation. The deceased were identified as Chanderpal, 60, son of the late Nanak Chand, and his son Vijay Kumar, 33, residents of Gali No. 14 in Harsh Vihar.

THE RESCUE

The Delhi Fire Services received a call about the collapse at 6:46 pm on Sunday and sent fire tenders to the site. Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the local police, the fire brigade and Civil Defence worked through the night to clear the debris, with a crane and ambulances at the spot. Both men were taken to Guru Teg Bahadur (GTB) Hospital, where doctors declared them brought dead.

Delhi Ministers Kapil Mishra and Ashish Sood visited the site on Sunday night. Mishra said the fire department and NDRF were working to reach two people believed to be trapped under the debris. The incident, he said, was “without a doubt, an unfortunate” one, and its circumstances would be investigated, with all relevant agencies mobilised.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The building was an old single-storey house on which an additional floor was being built. “At first glance, it appears that an attempt was being made to install a new lintel; it collapsed, causing the floor below to cave in as well,” Mishra said. The property is reportedly owned by Manoj Kumar, according to police.

A resident said a concrete slab was being cast on top of an existing lower slab that was weak. The lower slab gave way, and the new slab above it collapsed with it.

Additional DCP Sandeep Lamba said the area is completely enclosed, which made it hard even to work out which building had collapsed. Rescue teams, police, fire personnel, Civil Defence and residents together removed a large amount of debris from the sides.

THE INVESTIGATION

The cause is under investigation, and officials are examining the construction work and the safety of the building. The incident has again raised concern about safety on construction sites in the capital’s dense neighbourhoods, where extra floors are often added to old buildings.

With inputs from ANI