New Delhi : The death toll in the devastating building collapse in Old Delhi’s Chawri Bazar area has risen to six, with Delhi Police arresting three contractors in connection with the incident.

The three-storey under-construction building collapsed on Thursday around 10:30 am at Gali Sheesh Mahal, Gali Shehatara, near Ajmeri Gate in the Hauz Qazi area, triggering a massive rescue operation.

Police have identified all six victims as Sanjeet Kumar, Kishori Sah, Pankaj Sharma, Vipin Ram, Shantu and Dinesh Sah. Five of them were residents of Bihar, while Vipin Ram belonged to Mandawali’s Saket Block in Delhi.

Three Contractors Arrested

Delhi Police have arrested three contractors identified as Siraj, Tajuddin and Furkan, all residents of Sirohi village in Haryana’s Faridabad district.

The arrests were made in connection with a case registered under Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), police said.

Construction Lapses Suspected

Preliminary assessments suggest that possible construction violations and the premature removal of temporary structural supports may have contributed to the collapse.

Sub-Divisional Magistrate Manoj Kumar had earlier stated that a four-storey structure was being constructed on a relatively small plot. The temporary centring supports may have been removed before the concrete had properly set, causing the structure to give way.

Authorities also suspect that unauthorised construction on the second and third floors may have triggered the collapse of the entire building.

Narrow Lane Hampers Rescue Operations

Rescue teams faced considerable difficulties due to the congested layout of the locality. The collapsed structure is located at the end of a dead-end passage barely three feet wide, preventing access for rescue vehicles, heavy machinery and earthmovers.

Around 30 personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) were initially deployed to conduct rescue operations.

While four people were rescued during the initial response, several others were feared trapped beneath the debris.

The incident has raised serious concerns over construction safety, structural supervision and alleged violations of building regulations in densely populated areas of Old Delhi.