Alerted by cops,MCD took no action

Additional Commissioner of Police (Central) D C Srivastava said: “We sent a notice to the MCD when the illegal construction of the building started. Only the ground floor of the building had been built by then. But no action was taken by the authorities.”

When his comments were sought,Yogendra Mann,Director PIO (MCD),said: “Action for the said building was due. We received the letter from Delhi Police and were aware of the construction work. But we need to follow a protocol to demolish the building. Unfortunately,the building collapsed before we took necessary action.”

Now the MCD has given orders to evacuate an adjoining building which too is being allegedly constructed illegally. The agency said the building will be demolished in a few days. “Because of the collapse,the adjoining building has also developed cracks. So orders have been given to evacuate it as well. People have been asked to move out,” an official said.

Sources said the four-storey building that collapsed was constructed within 22 days. The floors crashed around midnight Friday when the labourers were sleeping inside. Six fire tenders were sent to the spot for rescue operations but it still took three days to remove the debris.

“I heard a loud thud and rushed to see what had happened. There was dust all over as the building came down in no time. All the labourers sleeping inside were trapped. Four persons were pulled out. One was dead and three others critically injured.”

Relatives of the labourers,the majority from UP,reached the spot the next morning and urged authorities to speed up rescue work. Three bodies were pulled out on Monday.