Delhi's Seemapuri sees demolition drive two days after building collapse kills 5
Synopsis
Two days after a four-storey building in Seemapuri killed five people — including two children and a pregnant woman — Delhi's MCD launched a demolition drive against illegal constructions on the orders of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. The building's owner is absconding, and a criminal case has been filed. Notably, this is the second major Delhi building collapse in roughly a month.
Key Takeaways
The MCD carried out a demolition drive in Seemapuri, north Delhi on 9 October 2026 , two days after a four-storey building collapsed.
The collapse killed at least five people , including a 12-year-old girl , a one-and-a-half-year-old child , Gulafsa (21, four months pregnant), Nusrat alias Guria , and Hajra Bibi .
Eight injured survivors were taken to Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital in Tahirpur.
The owner of the collapsed building is reportedly absconding ; a case has been registered.
The Seemapuri tragedy occurred about a month after a collapse in Satya Niketan killed seven people , including five students.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta ordered the demolition drive against structures violating government construction guidelines.
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) carried out a demolition drive in north Delhi's Seemapuri on Friday, 9 October 2026, targeting illegal constructions in the area just two days after a four-storey building collapse claimed at least five lives, including those of two children. The drive was ordered by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta against structures built in violation of government guidelines.
What Triggered the Demolition Drive
The action followed Wednesday's building collapse, in which a structure that had already been declared dangerous caved in and struck an adjacent building, damaging its balcony and walls. Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Shahdara District, Rajendra Prasad Meena said the MCD issued a notice to the owner of the neighbouring damaged structure and gave two hours for its complete demolition. 'We have provided police security to facilitate the operation,' he said.
A case has been registered in connection with Wednesday's incident. The owner of the collapsed building is reportedly absconding. 'The owner is currently absconding,' DCP Meena confirmed.
Victims Identified
Officials have identified those killed in the tragedy. They include a 12-year-old girl, Gulafsa (aged 21), who was approximately four months pregnant, a child aged around one-and-a-half years, and two others named Nusrat alias Guria and Hajra Bibi. Eight people injured in the collapse were rescued and shifted to Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital in Tahirpur for treatment. The rescue operation at the site concluded by 2 pm on Thursday, according to DCP Meena.
A Disturbing Pattern in Delhi
The Seemapuri collapse occurred approximately a month after a similar incident in Delhi's Satya Niketan area, which claimed seven lives, including those of five students. That building had been used as a paying guest accommodation, primarily housing students enrolled at Delhi University. Following that tragedy, the MCD had initiated demolitions of 'dilapidated' buildings across the national capital as part of a drive to identify unauthorised and unsafe structures — a drive that evidently did not prevent Wednesday's incident.
What Happens Next
Authorities are continuing their search for the owner of the Seemapuri building, who remains at large. The broader demolition drive against unauthorised constructions in the area is ongoing. Critics argue that reactive enforcement — acting after collapses rather than before — reflects a systemic failure in building inspection and regulation across Delhi's densely populated neighbourhoods.
Point of View
Seemapuri this week — point to a enforcement model that responds to disasters rather than preventing them. The MCD's post-collapse demolition drives are politically visible but structurally hollow: if a building had already been declared dangerous before Wednesday's collapse, the question is why it was never brought down earlier. With the owner absconding and a criminal case registered, accountability will be tested in court. But the deeper accountability gap — who approved these constructions, who cleared the inspections, and who looked away — rarely surfaces in these drives.
NationPress
9 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Seemapuri building collapse in Delhi?
A four-storey building in Seemapuri, north Delhi, collapsed on Wednesday, 7 October 2026, killing at least five people, including two children. Eight others were injured and taken to Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital in Tahirpur.
Who ordered the demolition drive in Seemapuri?
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta ordered the MCD to carry out the demolition drive against illegal constructions in Seemapuri on 9 October 2026. The drive targeted structures built in violation of government guidelines.
Who are the victims of the Seemapuri building collapse?
The five victims have been identified as a 12-year-old girl, Gulafsa (21, approximately four months pregnant), a child aged around one-and-a-half years, Nusrat alias Guria, and Hajra Bibi, according to officials.
Has anyone been arrested in connection with the Seemapuri collapse?
A criminal case has been registered, but the owner of the collapsed building is currently absconding, according to DCP Shahdara District Rajendra Prasad Meena. A search is underway for the owner.
Is this the first major building collapse in Delhi recently?
No. The Seemapuri collapse occurred approximately one month after a similar incident in Delhi's Satya Niketan area, which killed seven people including five students living in a paying guest accommodation near Delhi University.
