Three dead, 12 injured in Delhi building collapse (Third Lead)

Three people were killed and 12 others, including three women, injured when a three-storeyed under construction building collapsed here Sunday afternoon, police said.

The incident occurred at around 12.30 p.m.in the congested Sadar Bazar area of the old city.

Three bodies were recovered from the debris. The deceased - identified as Babu Paswan, 25, Natwar Lal, 50, and his son Ashok, 25 - were labourers, a police officer said.

"At least 12 people, including three women, were injured in the incident. They have been admitted to the Sushruta Trauma Centre, Hindu Rao and Ram Manohar Lohia hospitals. One of the injured is said to be critical," said a police officer.

"A case of negligence has been registered against the owner and the contractor of the building and probe is on in the incident," said the officer.

Three officials - the executive engineer (building), assistant engineer and junior engineer - of the area have been suspended, said North Delhi Municipal Commissioner Dharam Pal.

According to the Delhi Fire Service, three excavator machines were rushed to the spot to remove the debris and rescue those trapped.

A Fire Service officer said that the rescue operation has been done while the rubble is still being cleared.

A Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) team and other senior officers along with North Delhi Municipal Commissioner visited the site.

Dharam Pal said the owner of the building was trying to construct second floor on the existing 40 square yard plot unauthorizedly.

About the reason behind the building collapse, he said: "The building collapsed due to the use of poor construction material."

The revenue department has also directed deputy commissioner, central Delhi to pay compensation of Rs.2 lakh for the dead, Rs. 50,000 for the people seriously injured and Rs. 10,000 for those received minor injuries.

The deputy commissioner has been directed to complete the disbursal of the compensation within next three days.