New Delhi [India], October 30 (ANI): Delhi Home Minister Ashish Sood on Friday ordered a magisterial inquiry into the New Seemapuri building collapse that claimed four lives.
The District Magistrate (North-East) will investigate the incident and establish the cause of the October 7 collapse, according to the release.
The terms of reference for the magisterial probe focus on ascertaining the exact facts, circumstances, and root causes of the building collapse. It will identify violations of laws, building rules, and safety stipulations by owners, tenants, or private individuals.
The investigation will also check for lapses or omissions on the part of government departments, civic agencies, and their officers to ensure accountability and recommend strict legal action against all erring individuals, agencies, or officials. It will also examine the implementation of the National Disaster Management Act, 2005, and suggest permanent preventive measures to avoid such tragedies in the future.
Sharing his thoughts on the tragedy, Sood stated, “This is a deeply tragic incident that has cost precious lives. We have ordered a magisterial inquiry to investigate every single aspect of this collapse. No guilty person or lax official will be spared. Our immediate priority is to support the affected families, and our long-term goal is to enforce strict structural safety rules so that such an accident never happens again in Delhi.”
This development comes in view of the incident that took place at around 3:00 PM on October 7, when a four-to-five-storey residential structure collapsed abruptly. The building had been constructed on a compact plot measuring roughly 20 to 25 square yards.
Three adjacent structures suffered major damage, were declared unsafe by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), and were promptly evacuated.
Initial local inquiries indicate that demolition work using heavy, vibration-causing machinery on an adjacent unauthorised construction site triggered the collapse, the release said.
Nearby residential structures in the area have also been observed as weak buildings constructed on tiny plot areas without proper structural columns or beams.
An investigation to look into possible violations of building norms and lapses by civic agencies is underway. Strict action is to be recommended against those found responsible. (ANI)
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