Fri Jul 11 19:59:53 UTC 2025: **Summary:**
A 46-year-old man, Manoj Sharma, died when a three-story building collapsed in Azad Market, North Delhi. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has announced a ₹5 lakh ex gratia payment to his family and has launched an investigation into the incident, as the building was located within the DMRC’s tunnelling zone for the Janakpuri West-R.K. Ashram Marg corridor. The building was classified as “unsafe” and had an evacuation order issued in June. Despite this, some shops and a godown were still operating. The police have registered a case of death by negligence and negligent conduct related to building repairs.
**News Article:**
**Delhi Building Collapse Claims Life, Metro Orders Probe**
**New Delhi, July 12, 2025:** A 46-year-old man was killed early Friday morning when a three-story building collapsed in the Azad Market area of North Delhi. The deceased has been identified as Manoj Sharma.
According to Delhi Fire Services, a call was received at 1:56 a.m. reporting the collapse. Rescue teams discovered Sharma buried under the rubble. He was extracted and rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has announced a ₹5 lakh ex gratia payment to Sharma’s family and initiated a thorough investigation into the incident. The collapsed building was situated within the DMRC’s “influence zone,” where tunnelling work is underway for the Janakpuri West-R.K. Ashram Marg corridor.
A DMRC official stated that the building had been deemed “unsafe” and a mandatory evacuation notice was issued prior to the commencement of tunnelling operations in June. Despite this, reports indicate that three shops on the ground floor and a first-floor godown were still operational.
“It was clearly communicated that these structures were in an extremely dilapidated condition and therefore, as a precautionary measure, the evacuation of the structures was necessary,” the DMRC stated. The DMRC also noted that subsoil grouting and external supports were provided to stabilize the structures. M/s AFCONS was the contractor executing the tunnel work.
Police have registered a case under Sections 106(1) (death by negligence) and 290 (negligent conduct with respect to pulling down, repairing or constructing buildings) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Investigations are ongoing. According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) Raja Banthia, Sharma was employed at a shop owned by Gulshan Mahajan. A truck parked outside the building was also damaged in the collapse.
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