India

Delhi Police Charge Building Owner and Contractor in Harsh Vihar Collapse That Killed Two

By Hemani Bhandari

Delhi police on Wednesday filed charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder against the owner of a building in Harsh Vihar that collapsed on Sunday, killing two men. Deputy Commissioner of Police (northeast) Rahool Alwal said Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita was added to the first information report, which had previously charged the parties with causing death due to negligence. The main contractor who was building the first floor is reported to be on the run, while the owner, Manoj Kumar, was arrested after allegedly locking the gate and fleeing the site. The collapse occurred at about 5:45 pm on Sewa Dham Road, an unauthorised colony in Milan Garden. The owner’s son, Khushwinder Kumar, made the first police call at 6:46 pm, and residents were reportedly told that no workers were trapped inside. By the time the two men were rescued during an overnight operation that continued into Monday morning, it was too late. The deceased were identified as Chanderpal, 60, and his son Vijay Kumar, 33, both residents of Gali No. 14. They were taken to Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, where doctors declared them dead on arrival. Witnesses and the victims’ family said the delay in rescue was caused by the locked gate and misinformation from the owner. Pramod Sharma, a nearby restaurant owner, recalled the collapse occurring around 4:30‑4:45 pm and that police arrived only after two hours, with the National Disaster Response Force arriving after 9 pm. Residents said they had not called the police. The family alleged that the owner’s actions prevented rescue and that the deaths were not accidental. A preliminary inspection suggested the ground floor was an old structure used as a godown, while the first floor was under construction. Both portions collapsed, with the ground floor described as weak and lacking beams. Police are investigating the roles of the owner and contractor, including possible negligence in construction. The search for the absconding contractor is ongoing. The incident has highlighted concerns over structural safety, unauthorised construction and enforcement of building regulations in Delhi following recent fatal building collapses.