Seven dead in Delhi building collapse, CM orders magisterial inquiry

The toll in the building collapse in Delhi’s Satya Niketan area rose to seven on Monday, with search and rescue operations continuing at the spot, ANI reported.

Teams from the National Disaster Response Force, fire services, the police and other agencies were working to clear the debris and search for survivors.

Eleven persons have been rescued so far, and 30 to 35 students are estimated to be trapped under the rubble, India Today reported.

The five-storey building, which was being used as paying guest accommodation for students, collapsed on Sunday afternoon. The police said that as per inquiries, the structure was 40 to 50 years old, and repair work was underway in the basement when the building caved in.

Municipal Corporation of Delhi Commissioner Sanjeev Khirwar said that the building had never been given a notice or sealed, ANI reported.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, who visited the site on Sunday evening, ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident, The Hindu reported. She asserted that whoever is responsible for the collapse will not be spared, be it the owner of the building or a government official.

“The building was old, and some construction and renovation work was underway,” the newspaper quoted her as saying. “Our priority is to save the lives of these children first. All officials are present here, and there will be...

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