Four-storey building tilts in east Delhi amid rain, all residents evacuated

Locals and eyewitnesses said an overhang above the second-floor balcony had collapsed earlier due to the rains, after which residents noticed that the building had started leaning.

In Short

• Police cordoned off the lane and warned neighbours to avoid it
• An elderly woman with spinal injury was evacuated during the rescue
• Witnesses linked the dangerous lean to an earlier balcony overhang collapse

A four-storey building tilted in east Delhi's Geeta Colony on Monday evening, triggering a rescue operation in which all occupants were safely evacuated, police said on Tuesday.

Police said the area around the building has been cordoned off and residents of neighbouring houses have been advised to stay away from the structure. Among those rescued was an elderly woman with a spinal injury.

The incident was reported from Akhade Wali Gali in the locality. Locals and eyewitnesses said an overhang above the second-floor balcony had collapsed earlier due to the rains, after which residents noticed that the building had started leaning.

"The building is tilting. It is leaning from the back side and from this (right) side as well. The entire building is tilted," Ravi, a local, told PTI.

He said an elderly woman and her son lived on the second floor of the building.

"The woman suffered a spinal injury and was unable to get up on her own. We weren't sure whether her son was inside the house. We tried looking upstairs but couldn't see anyone," he said on late Monday evening.

Locals said they had earlier complained to the authorities about the condition of the building.

"We had submitted complaints earlier. The police had also come, made videos and took photographs, but no action was taken," Ravi said, adding that the building was around 30 to 35 years old.

Visuals from the spot showed the four-storey corner building with shuttered shops on the ground floor and three residential floors above. The structure appeared to lean towards one side, while police personnel kept onlookers away.

The building stands at the junction of two narrow lanes lined with closely packed residential structures.

Police said all occupants were evacuated safely after the building tilted, and the area has been sealed off as nearby residents have been asked to keep away from the structure.

- Ends