Ludhiana: A potentially catastrophic structural failure in one of the city’s busiest commercial hubs narrowly averted a mass-casualty event in the early hours of Sunday when the parapets of several shops collapsed in the Books Market.The debris fell at about 6am near Chaura Bazaar, hours before the Sunday crowds — typically the largest of the week — were set to arrive. While no injuries were reported, the incident has reignited a fierce debate over the thousands of decaying structures that local residents describe as “ticking time bombs.”A Familiar Pattern of DecayJaspal Singh, president of the Books Market Shopkeepers’ Association, confirmed that the aging sections of the shops gave way suddenly. He admitted the structures were known to be weak but had remained standing despite their precarious state.The collapse follows a string of similar incidents during the 2025 monsoon season, which saw structures fail near Vishwakarma Chowk and in Raman Market. Local authorities admit that the “old city” areas — including Field Ganj, Lakkar Bazaar, and Islam Ganj — are densely packed with hundreds of buildings that have long outlived their structural integrity.Bureaucratic DeadlockMunicipal Town Planner Vijay Kumar stated that while the civic body regularly issues notices to owners of unsafe buildings, the legal responsibility for dismantling them lies solely with the proprietors. “In case of any loss, the owner will be held responsible,” Kumar said, noting that a fresh inspection drive and another round of notices are planned for early this year.However, critics argue that these notices are rarely followed by enforcement. Municipal Corporation (MC) officials often cite “helplessness” due to protracted legal disputes between landlords and tenants, which frequently stall any attempts at demolition or major repairs.The Numbers: A City at RiskA survey conducted by the MC’s town planning branch last year identified 159 unsafe buildings across the city’s four zones. Zone D has 55 of these buildings (highest current count), Zone A (Old City) has 48, Zone C has 35, and Zone B has 21. While the number in the historic Zone A has dropped from 64 in 2021, the concentration of aging infrastructure in narrow, high-traffic lanes like Chaura Bazaar remains a primary concern for public safety.
