Tragedy Strikes in Seemapuri: Five Lives Lost in Building Collapse

A devastating incident unfolded in northeast Delhi’s Seemapuri on Wednesday, resulting in the tragic loss of five lives as a four-storey building collapsed, according to reports from PTI. The collapse occurred around 3:30 PM, leading to widespread devastation that buried parts of two to three nearby houses under the rubble.

Rescue operations revealed the heartbreaking recovery of three bodies—those of a pregnant woman, a 12-year-old girl, and a toddler aged approximately one-and-a-half years—on Thursday. As rescue teams worked tirelessly through the debris, two additional bodies were later discovered, as confirmed by an unnamed government official. The families affected by this calamity are now grappling with immense grief and loss.

Witnesses reported that the building had shown signs of distress, developing cracks after tremors were felt across the national capital due to an earthquake that struck Uttarakhand on Tuesday. While officials have stated that an investigation into the underlying causes of the collapse will be conducted, the incident raises critical concerns regarding building safety and regulations in the city. Eight individuals injured during the collapse have been transported to hospitals for medical attention.

This unfortunate event follows a similar tragedy that occurred just a month prior when a five-storey building in Satya Niketan collapsed on September 6, resulting in seven deaths and 12 injuries. That structure, reportedly 40 to 50 years old, was undergoing repair work in its basement when it fell. The Delhi High Court had condemned the incident, attributing it to “callous and criminal conduct.”

As the city grapples with the aftermath of these tragic events, it is imperative for local authorities to scrutinize and enhance building safety protocols to prevent future disasters. The loss of life in Seemapuri serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for stricter enforcement of construction standards, especially in densely populated urban areas where negligence can have catastrophic consequences.

Source: scroll.in