Following a building collapse in Northeast Delhi’s Mustafabad that killed 11 people, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) said the four-storey structure was an unauthorised construction. The civic body said it will conduct a survey of the area to identify other buildings with structural issues and seal them.
The incident took place in the early hours of Saturday. The dead included eight members of the family of a 2020 Delhi riots victim.
According to the MCD, the collapsed building was located in an unauthorised colony with narrow lanes and congested surroundings. It was around 20 years old and spread over 60 square yards.
Rescue teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Delhi Police were the first to reach the spot, after which officials from the MCD’s building, maintenance, and sanitation departments reached the site along with heavy machinery. Efforts were ongoing to clear debris.
MCD Commissioner Ashwani Kumar visited the site along with the Deputy Commissioner of the Zone and other officials.
“Prima facie, it was found that the structural design of the building did not adhere to the required load-bearing capacity. It appears that other buildings in the area may also have structural issues and not possess adequate load-bearing elements. In view of this, the MCD will carry out a survey in the area to identify such buildings having fifth and sixth floors with inadequate load-bearing elements and take necessary action to seal them. Strong action will be taken against those found guilty,” the MCD said in a statement.
Following the tragedy, which triggered a political firestorm, leaders from the BJP rushed to the site.
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In a scathing statement on social media, BJP leader and Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra blamed the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for fostering illegal constructions in areas predominantly inhabited by a “particular community”.
“Aam Aadmi Party and Kejriwal gang have committed the sin of building and protecting illegal buildings in the areas of a particular community… Construction of such illegal buildings is going on in full swing in areas like Mustafabad, Seelampur, Jafrabad, Old Delhi, Jamia and Seemapuri,” he wrote on X.
Visiting the site along with local MLA and Deputy Speaker of the Delhi Assembly Mohan Singh Bisht, Mishra said the incident was “heartbreaking” and assured support to affected families.
He also flagged that there is an alarming rise in illegal multi-storey constructions in East and Northeast Delhi, and claimed that many 6-7 storey buildings in the area are unauthorised.
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The MCD Commissioner has been instructed to complete a detailed survey of all such structures within two-three days and submit a report identifying high-risk buildings for potential evacuation and demolition, Mishra said.
“This is not just an accident but a result of criminal negligence. We will identify and demolish all illegal and unsafe structures. No construction should be permitted without proper government approval,” he added.
Bisht said, “I have continuously been raising the issue of illegal constructions in the area. The government is committed to the overall development of the region so people do not face any kind of problems.”
Expressing grief over the incident, AAP leaders appealed to their workers to extend support. “My deepest condolences to families of those who lost their lives; I appeal to all AAP karyakartas to extend full support to the administration,” Kejriwal said.
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“I urge all AAP karyakartas in Mustafabad to reach the site & assist administration in relief & rescue operations,” Leader of Opposition Atishi said.
Delhi Mayor and AAP leader Mahesh Kumar Khichi also visited the spot. “MCD Municipal Commissioner Shri Ashwani Kumar has been ordered to investigate the incident and has also been directed to suspend officers concerned for their negligence. I request all AAP workers of Mustafabad to help the administration in every possible way by giving full cooperation in relief and rescue operations,” he wrote on X.
Every year before the monsoon, the MCD’s building department is tasked with conducting an annual survey across the city. During this, the corporation’s junior engineers inspect buildings to identify those in dilapidated condition.
Owners of these buildings are issued notices and instructed to carry out repairs. If the repairs are not completed within a specified timeframe, the MCD has the authority to demolish these structures. The survey starts in April every year and is supposed to end by June.
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However, since last year, no such survey has been released by the corporation.
In July 2024, the civic body had told The Indian Express that they had only completed the survey of the South Zone, identifying four dangerous buildings.