Taking the death toll in the roof collapse incident to two, another labourer died at a two-storey under-construction godown in Alipur. “Two persons have died in the incident. The victims have been identified as Arun (27) and Kedar Nath (50). The rescue operations went on till about 2.30 am in the morning,” DCP (Outer Delhi) Vikramjit Singh said on Tuesday.
The incident took place around 8.30 pm on Monday night in Outer Delhi when the roof of the godown in Boodhpur area on National Highway-1, which had been laid on Monday, caved in.
Nine labourers were injured in the mishap, the police said, adding, they were rushed to nearby hospitals, including Harishchandra Hospital in Narela.
After the incident, rescue teams from fire department, civil defence, police, North Delhi Municipal Corporation and other agencies rushed to the spot.
A senior NDMC official alleged “illegal construction” was going on at the godown. “The godown comes under the extended ‘lal dora’ region of the city, it adjoins some farmland in Outer Delhi. Our junior engineer on Monday visited the place and warned them against any unauthorised construction. But by night, more labourers were assembled and work was resumed,” the official claimed.
He said additional and deputy commissioners of the area and other senior officials visited the site. Godowns are generally located in outer parts of the city.
The term ‘lal dora’ refers to land which is that part of village habitation used for non-agricultural purposes only and was exempted from building by-laws and construction norms and related regulations under the Delhi Municipal Act.
Incidentally, the NDMC standing committee had last month sought regularisation of godowns falling in ‘lal dora,’ extended ‘lal dora’ areas, agricultural land and unauthorised colonies on an “as is, where is” basis.
An FIR has been lodged in connection and investigation is on.
