Delhi’s fragile foundation: 55% surge in building collapses exposes civic failures

Building collapses in the national capital have become alarmingly frequent, turning Delhi into what experts describe as a ticking time bomb. The tacit acceptance of unauthorised colonies has created a dangerous situation where governance lapses become evident each time disaster strikes. When buildings fall, the state machinery scrambles for answers, but accountability remains elusive.

A disturbing rise in incidents

According to exclusive data released by the Delhi Fire Services (DFS), the city has seen an over 55% increase in house collapses this year. Between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025, there were 247 instances. By contrast, from April 1 to September 30, 2025, there had already been 384 collapses.

May was the worst month with 98 cases, followed by August with 97. The other months recorded 36 in April, 31 in June, 78 in July and 44 in September.

Up to April 20 this year, DFS had already recorded 27 collapses—more than double the 12 recorded in the same period in 2024, marking a 55.5% rise. Fatalities have also risen sharply: 15 deaths were reported by April 20, 2025, compared to eight during the same period last year.

The longer-term picture is equally grim. Between 2022 and 2023, 349 collapses resulted in 43 deaths and 315 injuries. The following year, 34 fatal collapses and 213 non-fatal ones claimed 23 lives and left 171 injured.

Experts warn that these figures reflect a deeper crisis. Residents of unauthorised colonies—many unrecorded in municipal or government registers—bear the brunt. These settlements often lack civic amenities, proper oversight, and legal protection.

Delhi’s monsoon nightmares

Heavy rainfall has compounded the crisis. On September 30, DFS officials reported at least five collapse-related calls. “House collapse incidents have become extremely commonplace now, especially with the rainy season. Within a single day, that too by noon, we had already received five house collapse related calls, which in itself has made the situation look much more grim than before,” an official said.

On September 8, a four-storey building collapsed in Subzi Mandi, North Delhi. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) had already declared the structure unsafe and unoccupied, which prevented casualties.

Earlier, on August 20, three labourers died when part of a three-storey building under reconstruction collapsed in Daryaganj. “The building, adjacent to Sadbhavna Park, collapsed. Three workers — Mohammad Jubbair, 24, his uncle Md Tofir, 32, and Gulsagar, 30 — were killed instantly,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Nidhin Valsan. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams recovered the bodies. Police registered a case under Section 106 (causing death by negligence) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against the owners and contractors.

On August 9, eight people died in Hari Nagar when a wall collapsed during heavy overnight rainfall, crushing nearby jhuggies.

North East Delhi bears the brunt

North East Delhi has emerged as a hotspot for these tragedies. On July 12, a four-storey building collapsed in Janta Colony near Idgah Road in Welcome, killing six members of one family.

The victims were Matloob, 50, his wife Rabia, 46, their sons Javed, 23, and Abdulla, 15, daughter Zubia, 27, and her two-year-old daughter Fauzia. Four other relatives were injured, including Siza, a pregnant daughter-in-law, who was later declared safe.

Neighbours described the difficulty of rescue efforts in the colony’s narrow lanes. “Even cranes could not function properly. Much of the clearing was done manually. Some of us got cuts and bruises while removing the rubble,” said Rahim, a resident.

The colony is composed entirely of unauthorised buildings. Many houses lack piped water supply, and stagnant drains are a common sight due to poor sewage. Police registered a negligence case under relevant sections of the BNS.

Mustafabad tragedy epitomises the crisis

On April 19, an entire building collapsed in Mustafabad, killing 11 people, including eight members of one family. The victims included the owner, Tehsin, 60, his wife Zeenat, 58, their son Nazeem, 30, daughter-in-law Shahina, 28, and their three children.

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Residents blamed clogged sewer lines and seepage for weakening the foundations. “The sewer lines are in poor condition, causing seepage that weakens foundations. Damp walls are common, but the government has done nothing to address the problem,” said Mohammed Gulfam, 52.

Tehsin’s brother, Mohammed Hajibullah, 62, accused civic authorities of neglect. “These colonies have always been neglected. Sewers are overflowing, and neither the councillor nor the MLA acts. While death is in God’s hands, this collapse was man-made,” he said.

Police investigations suggested that renovation work, particularly the demolition of a wall, may have triggered the collapse. An FIR was registered under multiple sections of the BNS, including 106 (causing death by negligence) and 290 (negligent conduct regarding building repairs).

Experts point to systemic failures

The Delhi Development Authority lists 1,731 unauthorised colonies and 69 affluent unauthorised colonies, none adhering to civic guidelines.

Architect Pradeep Sharma said poor construction materials are a key factor. “Buildings in unauthorised colonies deteriorate faster due to poor materials and lack of regulation. A 20-year-old building in such areas can collapse, unlike those in authorised colonies, where guidelines ensure durability,” he said.

Urban planner and former MCD official Pushkar Pawar added, “These buildings often violate regulations by using substandard materials and ignoring spacing requirements. Some submit plans for three-storey buildings but construct five, overloading foundations designed for less.”

DFS officials confirmed that most collapses occur in unauthorised colonies due to rapid, unregulated additions of floors. Referring to the Mustafabad incident, one official said, “The land was unsuitable for multi-storey buildings.”

An MCD official, speaking anonymously, admitted, “These incidents will continue due to the prevalence of unauthorised colonies, which ignore building bylaws.”

Recent incidents highlight the danger

Several other recent collapses underline the scale of the problem. On June 9, an eight-year-old boy died when a water tank fell from the second floor, causing the ground floor to collapse. A 45-year-old man was injured.

On April 11, a dust storm triggered multiple collapses across Delhi, leaving two dead and three injured. In Madhu Vihar, a wall on the sixth floor of an under-construction building collapsed, killing Chander Pal, 67. In Karol Bagh, a balcony crash injured a 13-year-old boy. In Dwarka, a parapet collapse killed a 10-year-old girl and injured her aunt.

A city on borrowed time

With rising fatalities and incidents, experts warn that Delhi’s building collapse crisis reflects deeper structural neglect. The unchecked growth of unauthorised colonies, coupled with weak governance, has created a fragile urban environment where disaster is not a possibility but an inevitability.