Man dies after three storey building collapses in Delhi's Azad Market

A 46-year-old man lost his life after a three-storey building collapsed in Delhi's Azad Market area in the early hours of Friday. The deceased has been identified as Manoj Sharma, whose body was recovered from the debris. The Delhi Fire Services received an emergency call about the collapse at 1:56 AM, prompting a swift response from rescue teams.

The collapsed structure, located at Tokri Walan, Pul Mithai, near Bara Hindu Rao, housed three shops on the ground floor, selling bags and canvas cloth, with godowns situated on the first floor. Manoj Sharma, also known as Pappu, had been an employee at one of these shops for the past 30 years. He was rushed to Hindu Rao Hospital but was declared dead upon arrival. No other injuries have been reported in the incident.

Authorities suspect that ongoing metro construction work nearby may have contributed to the collapse, though a detailed investigation is underway to determine the exact cause. A truck parked in front of the building also sustained significant damage. Police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and are conducting a thorough inquiry. Teams from the Delhi Fire Brigade, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Centralised Accident and Trauma Services (CATS) Ambulance, and Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) are on site, continuing rescue and relief operations, raising concerns about structural safety in the densely populated area.