HT exclusive: Delhi Police informed MCD of illegal construction at Chawri Bazar building months ago, say officials

A ground-plus-two-storey building in Chawri Bazar collapsed while construction work was underway. The incident matters because people were inside or working at the site, creating deaths, injuries and possible entrapment under the debris. It also raised questions about whether unsafe construction had been overlooked.

The building stood at 4547 Gali Sheesh Mahal, near Gali Sitara and the Chawri Bazar Metro station. A witness said the lanter of the third floor collapsed at around 9:30 a.m. on Thursday. The incident was reported at 9:50 a.m., according to PTI.

At least two people died and one person was injured. Officials did not initially know how many people remained trapped. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi later suspended two engineers, while rescue teams recovered bodies and saved an injured person. Further investigation was ordered to establish the exact cause.

The collapse caused at least two deaths and injured one person. The number of people trapped under the debris was initially unknown, so the human toll could not immediately be considered final. These figures show why fast rescue work was essential at the site.

The workforce estimate came from a witness who said about seven to eight labourers were working when the third-floor lanter collapsed. Elsewhere, the report described the witness as saying eight to ten labourers were at the site. The figures therefore indicate a group of several workers, not a single person.

Officials recovered two bodies and rescued one injured person. The Delhi Police had earlier raised concerns about unauthorised construction at the address. The MCD suspended an assistant engineer and a junior engineer, and a further inquiry was ordered to determine what caused the collapse and whether responsibility was overlooked.

Unauthorised construction means building or altering a structure without the required civic approval, or in ways that do not follow approved plans. It matters because authorities may not review the design, materials, load limits or work methods before construction begins. That can leave serious risks undiscovered.

In this case, Delhi Police told MCD about unauthorised construction at 4547 Gali Sheesh Mahal on June 15. A witness later said work was underway on the third-floor lanter when it collapsed. Construction changes, added weight or poor workmanship can make a building unsafe if engineers do not assess them properly.

The report does not establish the exact technical cause of the collapse. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said further investigation would determine it. The MCD suspended two engineers and an FIR was registered against the contractor. These steps show the need to examine both construction practices and official oversight.

Delhi Police said it had alerted Municipal Corporation of Delhi officials about unauthorised construction at the Chawri Bazar building. The warning matters because it shows that a concern had reportedly reached the civic authority before the structure failed. It also raises questions about whether the warning was acted upon.

After receiving complaints, police informed MCD about construction at 4547 Gali Sheesh Mahal, Chawri Bazar, on June 15. The report states that the collapse occurred nearly five months later, on a Thursday morning. A senior official said police were not aware of any action being taken by the civic body.

The report does not confirm why no action followed or whether the warning directly related to the collapse. HT sought a response from MCD officials, but the report had not received one when published. After the collapse, two MCD engineers were suspended and an inquiry was ordered.

Delhi Police and the MCD had different but connected roles in the case. Police received complaints and passed information about suspected unauthorised construction to the civic body. MCD officials were then expected to examine the building and address any violation within their municipal responsibilities.

The report gives a clear example of this chain. Police informed MCD on June 15 about unauthorised construction at 4547 Gali Sheesh Mahal. A senior official said police did not know of any action by MCD. The building later collapsed while work was reportedly taking place on the third-floor lanter.

The report does not explain the precise inspection process or whether an MCD notice was issued. It does show the consequence of a possible gap between warning and response. Afterward, MCD suspended Assistant Engineer Mohd Naeem and Junior Engineer Aman Dalal. An inquiry was ordered, and MCD officials were asked for their response.

The collapse triggered rescue, accountability and support measures. Officials recovered two bodies and rescued one injured person. The chief minister also ordered a thorough inquiry and directed that an FIR be registered against the contractor responsible for the construction.

The MCD suspended Assistant Engineer Mohd Naeem and Junior Engineer Aman Dalal on Chief Minister Rekha Gupta’s orders. The action followed the collapse and the wider concern over construction safety. Officials initially did not know how many people might still be trapped beneath the debris, so rescue operations remained urgent.

The Chief Minister’s Office directed officials to provide the best possible medical treatment to the injured. It also announced immediate ex-gratia assistance for affected families. The CMO said strict action would follow against those found responsible. The investigation was expected to establish the exact cause and determine whether negligence occurred.

Building permits establish what work is approved and under which conditions. Structural engineering checks whether the design can safely carry expected loads. Inspections compare actual work with approved plans and can identify dangerous changes. Safety rules protect workers and nearby occupants during construction.

These safeguards work best as a chain. A permit begins the official review. Engineers assess the structure and construction method. Inspectors check the site during key stages, while safety rules govern labour, materials and temporary support. If a violation appears, authorities can require changes or stop work before people are exposed to danger.

The Chawri Bazar case shows why the chain matters. Police warned MCD about unauthorised construction nearly five months before the collapse, but officials said they knew of no action. The article does not state which safeguard failed technically. It reports an inquiry, engineer suspensions and an FIR to examine responsibility.