2 killed in roof collapse

Building was under renovation for last one month

Two persons, including a 40-year-old woman, were killed when the roof of a building collapsed in north-east Delhi’s Sonia Vihar on Saturday. A case has been filed, police said.

“Two executive engineers of the North Delhi Municipal Corporation will conduct an inquiry and report in 72 hours,” said spokesperson Y S Mann.

Labourers were renovating the building in Sonia Vihar pocket 6 when the incident took place around 4 pm.

The deceased has been identified as Sunita Beniwal, who was the principal of a private school. The building was around 20 years old and the ground floor was constructed on 50 square yards.

Police said Sunita lived with her sons Ankit and Shekhar, and parents Nand Vallabh and Parvati. The land was registered in Parvati’s name.

“The labourers had been working at the building for the last one month. Due to the renovation work, Sunita and her family had shifted to a rented house in the neighbourhood,” said a police officer.

At the time of the collapse, Sunita had gone to the building to serve tea to the labourers. A call was made to the police control room after which the fire department was also informed.

“A fire tender was rushed to the spot for rescue operation,” a fire officer said. The victims were taken to Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, where Sunita and 35-year-old labourer Vijay were declared brought dead.

After an initial probe, police said the roof collapse also damaged other parts of the building. Sunita, Vijay and another labourer 25-year-old Shakeel were stuck in the debris, but were rescued before police or fire department officers arrived at the spot.

“They were taken to hospital in a PCR van, but Sunita and Vijay succumbed to their injuries,” the officer adder. The condition of Shakeel is stated to be stable.

After the incident, police have registered a case under sections 288 (negligent conduct with respect to repairing buildings) and 304 A (causing death by negligence) of the Indian Penal Code with Khajoori Khas police station.

Locals allege that the area, which houses several old buildings, has become a hub of illegal construction with the connivance of police and municipal corporation officers.