Delhi: Woman, son killed in wall collapse due to rain in Civil Lines

A 40-year-old woman and her teenage son lost their lives after the wall of an under-construction building collapsed in Delhi’s Civil Lines on Tuesday morning, following intense rainfall that battered the city. Two others were injured in the incident, which occurred near the Lieutenant Governor’s residence.

According to officials from the Delhi Fire Services, a call reporting the collapse was received around 9:53 AM. The deceased have been identified as Meera and her 17-year-old son Ganpath. Her elder son, Dashrath (19), and another man, Nanhe (35), sustained injuries and are undergoing treatment.

The tragedy unfolded as Delhi was placed under a ‘red alert’ by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), which warned of heavy rain accompanied by lightning and strong surface winds. Between 8:30 AM and 11:30 AM, Safdarjung recorded 63.5 mm of rainfall, while Ridge saw a downpour of 129.4 mm. Other areas like Lodhi Road and Pragati Maidan also received significant rain, according to the Regional Meteorological Centre.

The torrential downpour led to widespread waterlogging and traffic snarls in several parts of the city, including Zakhira Railway Underpass, Ram Bagh Road, Bhishma Pitamah Marg, and Road No. 40. Traffic diversions were implemented near Inderlok Chowk and Seva Nagar Bus Depot as stretches of Ring Road, Barapullah, and other arterial routes became submerged.

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The IMD said Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 26.8°C, slightly below the seasonal average. The maximum is expected to hover around 30°C, with relative humidity at 70 per cent this morning. Despite the downpour, air quality remained in the ‘satisfactory’ category with an AQI of 87, as per CPCB data.

Emergency services are continuing relief and clearance operations at the site of the collapse.

(With inputs from PTI)