Rescue operations are on at the site of the collapse.
A 150-year-old building came crashing down this morning near a crowded marketplace in north Delhi, killing the owner and his son.
The three-storey residential building collapsed in a heavily congested area near the Azad Market at around 7.30 am.
The owner, 65-year-old Mohammad Naqi, and his son Mohammad Nafees died. Another son is in hospital. The family had recently refurbished the building, said shocked neighbours. (
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"We have never seen anything like this before, don't know how it crashed without a warning," said Mohammad Akram, a neighbour.
The narrow, crowded lanes made it difficult for fire engines and rescue teams to arrive. Hand-pushed carts were used to remove debris.
"We heard the collapse shortly after 7 am. It was like an earthquake and the whole building came down. We rescued one boy from the debris," said a resident of the area.
The incident highlights the safety hazard in colonies like this where several old, unstable buildings defy civic guidelines.
"A notice had been served on this building earlier since it is so old," said Sindhu Pillai, Deputy Commissioner of Police, north Delhi.