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Scores Killed, Injured in Building Collapse in New Delhi

   Anjana Pasricha | New Delhi 16 November 2010
   Rescue  workers  pull  out  the  body of a child from the remains of a
   four-story  apartment  building that collapsed in New Delhi, India, 16
   Nov 2010

Photo: AP

   Rescue  workers  pull  out  the  body of a child from the remains of a
   four-story  apartment  building that collapsed in New Delhi, India, 16
   Nov 2010

   At  least  64  people  were  killled,  and  nearly  80  injured,  as a
   five-storey  builidng  collapsed  in  the  India capital of New Delhi.
   Hundreds  of  anxious  relatives  crowded  around the building in east
   Delhi  as  workers raced to rescue those trapped in its debris Tuesday
   morning.
   The  building  caved  in  Monday  night.  But rescue efforts were slow
   because  ambulances  and  heavy  equipment  needed to clear the rubble
   could  not  easily  navigate  the  narrow  alleys  in  the  congested,
   working-class  neighborhood.  Workers,  neighbors  and  residents used
   hammers  and bare hands to dig through the concrete. Scores of injured
   people have been moved to hospitals.
   The  building  housed about 200 people, mostly poor migrants and their
   families. Some small businesses also operated in the building.
   Angry  and  weeping relatives demanded answers from authorities in New
   Delhi as to how the building came down in minutes.
   The cause of the collapse is not clear. Some officials suggest that it
   may  have  been constructed in violation of building standards. Others
   said  that  unusually  heavy  monsoon  rains  could  have weakened the
   foundation  because  the  building is in an area that was inundated by
   floodwaters from the River Yamuna two months ago.
   Delhi  Chief  Minister  Sheila  Dikshit calls the scale of the tragedy
   unprecedented,  and  promises tough action against those found guilty.
   She says that authorities will investigate to see how five floors were
   constructed on a building which should have had three floors and whose
   foundations apparently could not support such a tall structure.
   A  top  official in the Delhi government, Tejinder Khanna, promised to
   tighten enforcement of building regulations. These are often violated.
   He says it is well known that due to the high demand for space and the
   pressure  of  the  population,  additional  floors  are often added to
   existing structures.
   Authorities  have  asked  residents  to  evacuate an adjacent building
   which  might  also  be  in  danger of collapse. They promise to survey
   other buildings in the area to assess their safety.

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