Nine-year-old girl among two killed in building collapse in GTB Enclave

Eyewitnesses said a drain work by PWD in the area might have weakened building's foundation.

A two-storey building near Tahirpur Sarai Colony near GTB Enclave in Northeast Delhi, collapsed on Wednesday evening, leaving two people, including a nine-year-old girl, dead.

Police identified the dead as Sapna (9) and her father Birpal Yadav (34).

According to preliminary reports, repair and cleaning of a nearly 15-foot deep and 13-foot wide drain was being carried out by the PWD in front of the building, using cranes and other excavation equipment, over the last few days. This reportedly weakened the foundation of the building, leading to its collapse.

The ground floor of the building was rented out to three shops, and the first floor had five rooms, of which one was rented out as residential accommodation, while the others were commercial establishments.

Eyewitnesses said a machine had been taking out debris from the drain, when the building collapsed at around 5 pm.

A PCR call was made at 5.10 pm, following which disaster management teams and fire rescue personnel rushed to the spot.

Yadav, who worked as a cleaner, had rented one of the rooms in the first floor, and was staying there with his three children for the last two years.

Rajkumari (12), Yadav's daughter and the only survivor from the collapse, said she was studying in their single-room home, when she heard a loud "crumbling" noise.

"My father came running inside our room, and grabbed my sister. I was running after them but the ceiling fell on our heads. I was separated from my father but I held on to my sister," Rajkumari told Newsline.

Her sister Sapna's body was reportedly the first to be taken out by rescue teams. They then rescued Rajkumari and then dragged out the body their father.

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