A building under illegal construction collapsed in Delhi's Chawri Bazar area on 5 November 2026, killing at least two people and injuring one more, as police confirmed an FIR is being registered against the building owners and the contractor. The incident occurred near Gali Sitara, close to Chawri Bazar Metro Station, at approximately 9.35 am, with rescue operations still underway to locate workers feared trapped under the debris.

What Happened at the Site

DCP (Central) Rohit Rajbir Singh told reporters that a slab was being cast on the third floor of the building when it suddenly gave way. 'Construction was going on here; a slab was being cast on the third floor. The building began collapsing while work was underway, and some labourers were working there,' he said. According to Singh, three workers have been identified so far, all three have been rescued from the rubble — but two have since died and one remains injured, though out of danger.

Resident Mohammad Irfan, who lives adjacent to the collapsed structure, said construction had been ongoing for two to three months, with the third floor having been completed. He noted that work had reportedly been stopped two days prior, but around five workers were present at the site when the collapse occurred. The exact number of people still trapped had not been confirmed at the time of his account.

Illegal Construction and Unsafe Structure

Police confirmed that the construction was unauthorised. 'The construction was illegal; we have already informed the Municipal authorities regarding that,' DCP Singh stated. He also noted that cracks have appeared in adjacent buildings, which are being evacuated as a precautionary measure. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has been alerted and is expected to take further action.

Six fire units, including a water tender and rescue vehicles, were dispatched to the site after the collapse was reported at 9.50 am. Search operations continued through the day to locate anyone still buried under the rubble.

FIR Against Owners and Contractor

DCP Singh confirmed that authorities have established the identities of the building owners and the contractor. 'Action is being taken against the building owners and the contractor. FIR is being registered against them. We have received their identities,' he said. The contractor was reportedly present at the site at the time of the collapse and had been in the process of withdrawing labourers when some were trapped.

AAP Councillor Blames 'Builder Mafia'

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillor from Chawri Bazar, Rafia Mahi, reached the site and blamed what she described as a 'builder mafia' operating under the MCD zone. 'Why is this entire builder mafia operating through the MCD zone? Three floors of the building were under construction,' she said. Her remarks reflect growing concerns about unauthorised construction in Delhi's older, densely built neighbourhoods.

A Recurring Pattern in Delhi

This incident follows the collapse of a building in Delhi's Satya Niketan area approximately two months ago, which claimed seven lives. The Chawri Bazar tragedy occurred amid a festive rush in one of the busiest commercial zones of the national capital, raising fresh questions about enforcement of construction norms in heritage and high-density areas of old Delhi. As of now, rescue operations remain active and the death toll could potentially rise.