The Chawri Bazar building collapse in Delhi has prompted an immediate government inquiry, the suspension of two Municipal Corporation of Delhi engineers and an FIR against the contractor overseeing the construction project, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said after inspecting rescue and relief operations at the site.
At least two people have died in the collapse of the under-construction structure, which Gupta described as a ground-plus-three-storey building. The chief minister said the exact cause would be established through further investigation and directed officials to fix accountability for any negligence.
Gupta ordered the immediate suspension of the assistant engineer and junior engineer concerned in the MCD building department. She also directed that a detailed inquiry be conducted into the incident and that an FIR be registered against the contractor, who was directly overseeing the project.
“The structure was ground-plus-three-storey. Further investigation will reveal the exact cause of the collapse,” Gupta told reporters after visiting the site. In a post on X, she said strict action would be taken in accordance with the law against anyone found guilty.
The rescue operation involves teams from the MCD, Delhi Disaster Management Authority, National Disaster Response Force, Delhi Fire Service and Delhi Police. Centralised Accident and Trauma Services is also involved in the government’s response. Officials have been directed to make every effort to safely evacuate people who may remain trapped and ensure that the injured receive medical treatment.
Gupta said the contractor had failed to ensure safety and security at the project site, according to the report, and this was the basis for registering the FIR. The investigation will determine the specific circumstances that led to the collapse and whether any other individuals or agencies were responsible for violations or oversight failures.
The chief minister also ordered immediate ex gratia assistance for the affected families. She expressed condolences to the families of those who died and said the government was coordinating the rescue, medical and relief response through the agencies deployed at the site.
The incident has brought the enforcement of building safety standards into focus in one of Delhi’s most densely built commercial and residential areas. Gupta appealed to citizens to follow prescribed safety standards while constructing homes, warning that non-compliance can result in loss of life and property.
The immediate next steps are the completion of rescue operations, medical assistance for the injured, disbursement of ex gratia support and the detailed inquiry into the collapse. The FIR and departmental suspensions will proceed alongside the investigation into the contractor’s role and the responsibilities of the concerned MCD officials.
