A huge cloud of dust and a fear that yet another tragedy might strike looms over Chandni Mahal two days after seven persons died in a building collapse in this area of Old Delhi.
Kiran Shrivastava (48), a local, says there is a feeling of uncertainty that an under-construction house adjacent to their residence can fall any moment.
“They cut a 100-year-old Peepal tree some months back. This is what we were apprehensive about. This is why we were saying do not uproot the tree. The house adjacent to ours is an old house and some constructor is illegally adding up new storeys to the building, although there is only one wooden girder as a support,” she says.
She says there is a perpetual angst on the mind of everyone in the family that the next moment some tragedy might strike them.
Ms Shrivastava and her family moved to Delhi from Kanpur 25 years back.
“The house we stay in is almost 80-year-old but it isn’t the cause of concern. What frightens us are the upcoming new illegal constructions in this area,” she says.
Locals in the area allege that illegal construction work is going on in the area as some “big wigs” are involved in it.
The locals also alleged that three persons, Anil Sharna, Sunil Sharma and Sanjay Sharma are carrying out illegal construction work in the area. The three have left the area after the incident.
“Look at this house...it is like a card tower...a house of playing cards...it can fall any moment. The irony is that the government can’t even give the adequate compensation,” 30-year-old Kashif said.