Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Thursday, 5 November 2026, visited the site of a building collapse in Chawri Bazar, central Delhi, confirming that two people have been killed and one rescued injured. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has suspended its Junior Engineer (JE) and Assistant Engineer (AE), and a First Information Report (FIR) has been registered against the contractor overseeing construction at the site.

What Happened at the Site

The collapsed structure was a ground-plus-two-floor building that was undergoing active construction at the time of the incident. A worker rescued from the rubble told reporters that wooden supports placed beneath a freshly cast concrete slab had begun to creak and show signs of imminent failure. 'The wooden supports started creaking, as if they were about to give way. Seeing this, I warned everyone that the supports were collapsing and the slab could fall,' he said. The building gave way as workers attempted to flee the premises.

Action Taken by Authorities

Chief Minister Gupta confirmed the immediate suspensions and the FIR, citing contractor negligence as the proximate cause. 'The contractor did not care about the safety of workers despite being in charge of the construction. That is why an FIR has been filed against him,' she said. She further warned that officials found negligent in oversight would also face action, saying, 'Action will be taken against officials if they are found to be negligent.'

Mayor Pravesh Wahi said the suspensions took effect immediately and that a probe committee has been formed under the Municipal Commissioner, with a report expected within three days. Search and rescue operations were still underway as of Thursday evening.

Political Response and Calls for Accountability

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Delhi President Harsh Malhotra, who also reached the spot, said such incidents are a direct consequence of construction carried out in violation of building rules. He called for FIRs to be extended to responsible officials as well. 'The building is bound to fall if additional floors are illegally constructed,' he added, characterising the structure as an unauthorised build.

Heritage Area Concerns

Delhi Minister Ashish Sood described the absence of a formal regulatory framework for the heritage zone as 'unfortunate'. He noted that the Shahjahanabad Development Board — the designated body for the area — had not framed binding norms for development in the precinct. 'Our government has activated the board and is working to formulate new laws and regulations for heritage buildings and the area,' Sood said. The collapse has renewed debate about the lack of enforceable safety and conservation standards in one of Delhi's oldest and densest neighbourhoods.

Search Operations Ongoing

Rescue teams remained at the site on Thursday as officials confirmed that further details of those trapped or missing were still being compiled. The exact cause of the structural failure is expected to be established after a formal technical investigation, the Chief Minister said. The incident is at least the latest in a series of building collapses in Delhi's congested inner-city wards, raising questions about the regularity of structural inspections in heritage and high-density zones.