New Delhi, Sep 28: Seven persons lost their lives when a three-storeyed old building suddenly collapsed on Tuesday evening in Old Delhi's Chandni Mahal locality.
The death toll could rise on Wednesday, as the condition of at least five survivors was critical.
22 injured persons were rushed to LNJP hospital, where the condition of fivewere reported to be critical.
Nearly one hundred people live inside the congested building, but at the time of disaster, more than 50 were inside the building.
They were trapped inside the debris when the structure suddenly collapsed as a building was under construction adjacent to the ill-fated old building.
There were nearly 30 families staying in the building when it collapsed.
Delhi Fire Brigade, Civil Defence, Police and other personnel were engaged in rescue operation even as a JCB machine was brought in to rescue survivors trapped inside the debris.
Ten ambulances reached the spot to ferry the injured persons to the hospital. Electricity in the locality was disconnected to prevent more casualties.
The Delhi government today blamed the MCD for the collapse of a building in Old Delhi, saying that the tragedy was "waiting to happen".
Coming down heavily on the civic agency, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Harun Yusuf said the locals had approached the MCD several times but they never bothered to take any precautionary measures.
"The MCD is directly responsible for the tragedy. It was waiting to happen. They never bothered to check the structural safety of the old buildings. They only knows how to make money," Yusuf alleged.
Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit held telephonic conversation with top officials of the administration and directed them to do the needful for the rescue work.
Dikshit also directed Health Minister A K Walia to ensure proper treatment of those injured in the collapse.
Walia also held a meeting with MCD and Health Department officials in his house and directed them to provide all possible help to the affected people.
The Health Minister is personally monitoring the relief and rescue work.
List of injured patients is as follows:
1. Afiya --16 2. Md. Faiyaz--6 3. Mohammad Sajid --40 4. Muneza-11 5. Bijendra-60 6. Gaurav-21 7. Sabia-45 8. Shakir-28 9. Saima-12 10. Md. Nasir--55 11. Dilshan-4 12. Suresh-60 13. Kumkum-5 14. Ramiz --5 15. Feroz-30 16. Salman-15 17. Mukesh-22 18. Md. abid-29
List of critical patients:
1. Rafulla-60 2. Shoaib-25 3. Md. Mustaq-40
