Over 10 houses collapse near ITO due to heavy rain

Over 10 houses collapse near ITO due to heavy rain 

No injuries reported, say police; slum resident says household items swept away

Over 10 houses collapsed in the slums of Anna Nagar near ITO due to heavy rain, which led to the displacement of residents on Sunday morning. The colony is located behind the under­construction WHO headquarters at ITO. After the incident was reported, the police, Delhi Fire Service (DFS) and National Disaster Response Force (NRDF) teams rushed to the spot. According to the DFS, a call was received at 8 a.m. stating that a house had collapsed.  Due to the rain, many residents of the area had evacuated their houses on Saturday night. 

Drain overflowing The drain next to the slums started overflowing in the morning and swept away the houses, trees and shops. However, no injuries were reported due to the collapse. Jyoti, a resident of the area said: “It is difficult to say how many people have been affected due to the rain. I along with my monthold baby, in­laws and husband have shifted to another place. We are staying in a tent erected by the authorities. The rain did not bring down our house but it developed cracks and the officials asked us to shift outdue to safety reasons. Our belongings, household items have been swept away.” An NDRF team was also sent to the spot to take stock of the situation.

Dome built in 1822 damaged

The dome of Masjid Mubarak Begum in Bazaar Hauz Qazi was damaged due to the heavy rains in the Capital on Sunday. North Delhi Municipal Corporation officials said they received complaints of the dome, built in 1822, breaking due to the rain and lightning. Located near Chawri Bazaar metro station, the Masjid according to an INTACH listing is constructed of Lahori brick, sandstone, terrazzo and local stone and is a living monument that continues to be used as a mosque. The masjid built in Mughal style is two­storeyed with the upper floor consisting of a large courtyard and prayer chamber of three compartments and is roofed by disproportionately high domes.

Broken houses in slums in Anna Nagar near ITO after heavy rain on Sunday.  

A 56­year­old man, who drowned at a waterlogged underpass in Minto Road on Sunday morning, had plans to go home in Uttarakhand as his elder daughter’s wedding was scheduled for November, said a family member. The victim — Kundan Kumar — had come back from Uttarakhand a few days before the lockdown in March, said his cousin Pritam Singh. “He wanted to go home as his elder daughter, Kavita’s, wedding was scheduled for November but was advised by his family to wait till the situation returns to normal.” 

‘Last seen’  On the day of the incident, a boy, who knew Kumar, last saw him on the top of the tempo, said Mr. Singh. “When the boy returned to

the spot with help, they could not see my brother anymore. Maybe he got scared and could not escape or maybe he slipped. Later, his body was retrieved from the water,” Mr. Singh said. Kumar was the sole breadwinner of his family. He is survived by his elderly parents, wife and two daughters — aged 22 and 11. His family lives in Uttarakhand’s Pithoragarh.  Kumar used to drive his cousin’s mini truck for ferrying goods and food to a paramilitary canteen, Mr. Singh said. Kumar lived near a taxi stand in Shankar Market where he parked his vehicle. He used to leave for work at 5 a.m. and return home at around 7 p.m., his cousin said. “I last spoke to him on Saturday evening. At 8.30 a.m. on Sunday, I got a call regarding the incident after

which I sent some men to Minto Bridge,” Mr. Singh said.  The police said Kumar was trying to manoeuvre his vehicle through the waterlogged underpass when it got stuck and he drowned.  Kumar, who earned ₹15,000­₹20,000 per month depending on work availability, used to be in the city for 3­4 months and then go home for next 4­5 months.  Kunar’s body was shifted to a mortuary at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital wherein it will be handed over to the police after post­mortem. Some other vehicles were also stuck due to massive waterlogging at Minto Bridge due to a heavy downpour. Delhi Fire Service personnel rescued a driver and a conductor of a DTC bus and an auto driver from their vehicles stuck in the waterlogged underpass.

He was the sole breadwinner of the family, says his cousin

SAURABH TRIVEDI 

NEW DELHI 

Tempo driver who died had plans to go home for his daughter’s wedding