NEW DELHI: From crumbling houses to collapsing structures, a series of incidents across Delhi has raised a pressing question: how safe are the buildings people live and work in?Delhi Fire Service data paints a worrying picture, with 36 deaths reported in house-collapse incidents from Jan to Oct 2026.The data says that the fire department received 396 calls related to house collapses till Oct 26. While 36 people lost their lives, 139 were rescued.According to a fire department official, faulty construction and structural weaknesses were the main contributors to the collapses.The situation was no different in 2025. The department received more than 500 calls related to house collapses, in which over 50 people died and more than 170 were rescued.Investigations into a series of building collapse incidents have repeatedly pointed to construction-related negligence, unauthorised modifications and violations of building safety norms.In May, the collapse of a five-storey building in Saidulajab, which claimed six lives, was attributed to multiple violations, including the construction of unauthorised additional floors, the use of substandard building materials and disregard for mandatory building safety norms, according to the inquiry.A similar pattern of alleged negligence emerged in the Sept 6 collapse in southwest Delhi’s Satya Niketan, which killed seven people, including five students and two labourers.The inquiry found that a wall on the ground floor, which was obstructing space earmarked for a shop, was removed to create additional space without obtaining the necessary approval from any competent authority. The building subsequently collapsed.According to officials, several factors could contribute to building collapses, particularly in older structures.One of the major reasons, they explained, is the addition of floors to buildings without assessing whether their existing foundations and structural framework can bear the increased load.“Many old buildings were constructed with foundations designed to support only the original structure. Over the years, additional floors are added, increasing the load on the foundation beyond its capacity. In many cases, the foundation is simply not equipped to withstand this additional weight, which can weaken the structure and eventually lead to a collapse,” said Atul Garg, former director of Delhi Fire Service.He also pointed to the risks associated with construction and renovation work in and around existing buildings.The use of heavy machinery during such activities generates vibrations and causes repeated jerks, which can affect the structural stability of adjoining or already weakened buildings.
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