One dead, three injured as building collapses during demolition in Delhi’s Karol Bagh

August 21, 2026

New Delhi: One person died and three others were injured on Friday after a two-storey building collapsed during demolition work in Delhi’s Karol Bagh area, officials said.

According to a preliminary inquiry, the building was being demolished by a private contractor engaged by its owners. Officials said the demolition work had been carried out without permission from the concerned agency.

Building collapses during demolition work

The incident was reported at around 11:15 a.m. from Pyare Lal Road in Regarpura, Karol Bagh. The building suddenly collapsed while labourers were working at the site, trapping them under the debris.

Police personnel immediately reached the spot and launched rescue operations with the help of fire services.

Four labourers were injured in the incident. Sheikh Shamshad later succumbed to his injuries. His body was shifted to the mortuary at Lady Hardinge Medical College Hospital.

One injured worker in critical condition

Among the three injured workers, Md. Ayub sustained serious injuries, including a head injury and a fracture in his right hand. He was referred to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, where his condition was reported to be critical.

Sheikh Saidul suffered limb injuries and is undergoing treatment at Jeevan Mala Hospital, while Rafik-Ul sustained minor injuries and later returned to his residence.

Police and fire services personnel carried out rescue operations and shifted the injured workers to hospitals for treatment.

Owners, contractor detained for questioning

The building owners and the contractor have been detained for questioning.

Police said further legal action under appropriate provisions will follow after verification of the facts and assessment of the circumstances that led to the collapse.

The incident comes a month after a similar building collapse in Delhi’s Rohini Sector-16, in which at least three people died and one person was injured. The incident had occurred after heavy rainfall in the national capital.

During that rescue operation, a 42-year-old man, Ram Kishore, was pulled from beneath the debris and taken to a hospital, where he was declared brought dead. Another labourer, 35-year-old Ravi, was rescued safely.

The building owner, Ram Dua, was suspected to be trapped under the rubble, while some labourers were also feared trapped inside. Delhi Police had registered a case against the building owner.