Delhi: Four-storey building tilts in Shahdara; authorities issue evacuation notice

A four-storey building in Bihari Colony, Shahdara, tilted dangerously on Thursday, prompting civic authorities to order its immediate evacuation along with that of nearby buildings as a precaution, officials said.

An official from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) said the building was evacuated with assistance from the local police. Temporary support using jacks has been provided to prevent further tilting.

The official added that the structure may be formally declared unsafe and subsequently demolished, pending a final assessment report.

Sandeep Kapoor, Chairman of the MCD‘s Shahdara South Zone, said the civic body has been running special campaigns in areas where several old or dilapidated buildings, many of them five or six storeys high, pose a risk to life and property.

“We are actively inspecting such structures, issuing notices, and sealing them if necessary,” Kapoor said. “In Bihari Colony, multiple buildings were found to be leaning and dangerous, leading to their evacuation.”

A survey team is expected to revisit the site on Friday to determine the next course of action, which may include sealing or demolition, he added. Legal steps will also be taken as required.

Kapoor stressed that when a building is declared dangerous, surrounding structures are also assessed for safety risks. “If one collapses, it can cause severe damage to neighbouring buildings. That’s why precautionary notices have been issued to vacate all such buildings until a final decision is made,” he explained.

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Visuals from the site showed wooden poles propping up the leaning structure. A team from the Farsh Bazar police station has been deployed to monitor the area.

“We are urging people to keep away from the site. MCD officials have pasted evacuation notices on the building and are assessing the situation,” said a senior police officer.