Delhi: Death toll in collapse of structure at dargah near Humayun's Tomb rises to 7, police register case

The death toll in the collapse of a structure at a dargah near the Humayun's Tomb in the Nizamuddin area here rose to seven on Saturday, with another man succumbing to his injuries during treatment, police said.

They added that a case has been registered against unidentified people.

The incident took place at the Dargah Sharif Patte Shah around 3:30 pm on Friday. The dargah shares its boundary wall with the 16th-century garden-tomb commissioned by Mughal emperor Humayun's first wife, Bega Begum, in 1558.


Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast) Hemant Tiwari said the deceased included four men and three women.

Sources said five of the seven deceased have been identified as Swaroop Chand (79), a resident of Malkaganj, Moinuddin (37), Anita Saini (58), a resident of Bhogal, Meena Arora (56) and her daughter, Monu Arora (25) -- both residents of Vasant Kunj Enclave.

While five victims died during treatment at the AIIMS Trauma Centre, one each succumbed in the LNJP and Safdarjung hospitals, the officer added.

A man who was taken to the Safdarjung Hospital in an injured condition after the incident succumbed to his injuries on Saturday.

The five injured people have been identified as Mohammad Shameem, Aryan, Gudiya, Rafat Parveen and Rani (65), a Delhi Fire Services official said.

The DCP said a case under sections 290 (negligent conduct with respect to pulling down, repairing or constructing buildings), 125 (acts that endanger human life or personal safety) and 106 (causing death by negligence) has been registered against unidentified people.

He added that two rooms of the dargah -- one occupied by an imam and a rest room -- were in a dilapidated state and heavy rain led to the roof and a wall to collapse at a time when 15 people had taken shelter there.

"Twelve people, most of whom were visitors, were rescued from under the debris. Nine of them were admitted to the AIIMS Trauma Centre, where five died. One man was admitted to the LNJP Hospital, while a woman was admitted to the RML Hospital," the DCP said.

Police added that the man admitted to the LNJP Hospital died during treatment.

Further investigation into the incident is underway and civic agencies have been informed of the development for further probe on their part, an official said.