The owner of the building in southwest Delhi’s Satya Niketan that collapsed during repair work, killing seven people, was apprehended from Rajasthan’s Bhiwadi area on Monday, police said.
The accused, identified as 66-year-old Hariram Gupta, was apprehended by the Delhi Police from Bhiwadi, an officer said, adding that further examination in connection with the case was underway.
The decades-old five-storey building, which housed a boys’ paying guest accommodation near Delhi University’s South Campus, collapsed at around 1.30 pm on Sunday while repair work was being carried out.
The death toll rose to seven on Monday, while 12 people have so far been rescued from the debris.
The National Disaster Response Force and other agencies continued search and rescue operations for the second day. NDRF Inspector General Narendra Bundela said the force did not have a specific figure on the number of people who could still be trapped under the debris.
The operation was expected to continue till late Monday, he said.
The All India Institute of Medical Sciences said 11 patients were received at its JPN Apex Trauma Centre following the collapse. Of these, five were brought dead, while another patient in critical condition later succumbed to injuries. Three patients were admitted for treatment, one underwent limb surgery and another with minor injuries was discharged after observation.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta visited the site on Monday to oversee the rescue operation and said around 80 per cent of the debris had been cleared.
She said water had accumulated in the basement and, along with ongoing repair work on the old structure, contributed to the collapse.
Gupta ordered that buildings in Delhi having a fifth floor be sealed and said a structural audit would be carried out of such buildings. She also warned of strict action against officials found responsible for negligence.
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi meanwhile suspended South Zone Deputy Commissioner Rakesh Kumar and four engineers pending disciplinary proceedings following the collapse.
The suspended officials include Superintending Engineer Ranvir Singh, Executive Engineer (Building) Lalit Kumar Goel, Assistant Engineer (Building) Sunil Chauhan and Junior Engineer (Building) Ashish Kumar.
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The Delhi government has also ordered a magisterial inquiry into the collapse and directed registration of an FIR against the building owner.
Gupta said the building adjacent to the collapsed structure, which was considered unsafe, would also be demolished after the debris was cleared. Residents of the collapsed building and other unsafe structures in the vicinity have been evacuated.
The chief minister also said the government was drafting a policy requiring owners of old buildings to submit structural audit reports and certify their safety before operating paying guest accommodations, nursing homes, schools or other commercial establishments.
Multiple agencies, including the Delhi Police, Delhi Fire Service, NDRF and Delhi Disaster Management Authority, have been involved in the rescue operation since Sunday.
