Locals protest against politicians at Delhi building collapse site

The site of the building collapse in Old Delhi saw protests this morning by angry locals who claimed the nexus between politicians, MCD officials and police allowed rampant illegal construction in their locality, even as rescue operations continued.

Chandni Mahal saw women leading sloganeering against the authorities, alleging that politicians and officials were "filling their pockets" by allowing the illegal structures to come up.

Two buildings in the locality, which has congested lanes, collapsed at around 8 pm yesterday due to construction activity in one of them, killing seven persons and causing injuries to at least 25 others. Locals claim that the construction in one of the buildings that collapsed could be illegal.

"All are hand-in-glove. Police and MCD officials take money and allow illegal construction. The buildings are very old and no care is taken," said Abida, a local woman.

Shadra, another woman, said officials turn their eyes from illegal activities while "poor people like us suffer."

The policemen who came to evict the protesters near the site to facilitate rescue operations were heckled and shouted at by the women who asked them not to "dare to remove us".

The protests not withstanding, locals also helped rescue workers in clearing the debris and look for any survivors in the concrete rubble. However, the narrow lanes hampered the pace of the rescue work.

A large number of personnel from Delhi Police, fire brigade, National Disaster Response Force and Delhi Disaster Management Authority were engaged in the rescue operations which had continued overnight.

"We had some problems due to the congested lanes. We were not able to bring an earth mover inside. Hope things change during the day," a rescue worker said.

Locals were also angry at politicians not turning up at the site.    "Some leaders have gone to Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Hospital but they have not come here. Why is that?" asked local resident Mohd Alam.

Local MLA Shoib Iqbal visited the spot and claimed that he had informed police and MCD about illegal construction activities in the locality.

"There is a nexus between police and MCD officials to allow illegal construction. I myself had informed the senior officials at the local police station thrice but no action was taken," he claimed.

Iqbal also demanded that Delhi government pay Rs20 lakh compensation to the next of kin of the deceased.