Three contractors have been arrested in connection with the collapse of an under-construction three-storey building in Delhi's Chawri Bazar area. The incident, which took place on Thursday, claimed the lives of two construction workers and left several others injured. Police identified the arrested men as Siraj, Tajuddin and Furkan, residents of Sirohi village in the Dauz tehsil of Faridabad, Haryana. Preliminary investigations have revealed several alleged violations in the construction work. The building was being constructed on a plot measuring around 50 square metres without obtaining approval for its building plan from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). Police have registered a case and are investigating the circumstances that led to the collapse.

Unauthorised Construction and Poor Material Quality Under Scanner
According to the initial investigation, the building was being constructed without the required municipal approval. An MCD official confirmed that no permission had been granted for the construction. The corporation had also reportedly not received any complaint regarding the building. Construction work at the site had been stopped around 15 days before the incident. However, three floors had already been constructed, and roof casting work was underway when the structure collapsed. Investigators have also raised concerns about the quality of construction materials. Preliminary findings suggest that the materials may not have met the required standards and had not properly settled, raising the possibility that poor construction quality contributed to the collapse.

Two Labourers Dead, Several Others Injured
The deceased workers have been identified as Kishori, 40, and Sanjeet, 45, both residents of the Railway Colony in Mandawali. They were working at the construction site when the building came crashing down. Several others were injured, including 25-year-old Sahdev Chaudhary and 37-year-old Firoz. The injured were taken to hospital for medical treatment. According to local residents, a loud explosion-like sound was heard when the building collapsed on Thursday morning. People rushed to the spot and attempted to rescue those trapped under the debris. Delhi Police, Delhi Fire Services, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and MCD teams subsequently launched a joint rescue operation.

JE and AE Suspended, Chief Minister Orders Probe
Following the incident, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta visited the accident site and ordered an investigation into the collapse. She directed officials to register an FIR against the contractors allegedly responsible for the construction violations. She also instructed the authorities to immediately suspend the concerned Junior Engineer (JE) and Assistant Engineer (AE). Acting on these directions, the MCD suspended both officials. The Chief Minister said strict action would be taken against those found responsible for ignoring construction safety standards. She also instructed officials to ensure proper medical treatment for the injured and provide immediate financial assistance to the affected families. The investigation is now focused on establishing accountability for the unauthorised construction and the circumstances that led to the deaths of the two workers.