New Delhi: A 32-year-old man and his wife, who had been married for barely two-and-a-half months, were killed when the roof of their rented house collapsed in northeast Delhi’s Usmanpur Sunday night, while the woman’s 10-year-old son narrowly escaped as he was watching television in a neighbour’s house.The incident was reported around 10.30 pm at JP Nagar in Ganwari Extension. Three fire tenders went to the spot.According to the Delhi Fire Services, the roof of the single-storey house caved in, trapping the couple under the debris. Before firefighters reached the spot, residents and police personnel pulled them out and took them to a hospital where they were both declared brought dead.The deceased were identified as Tinku (32) and his wife, Urmila (30). Their bodies have been sent to GTB Hospital for a post-mortem examination.Police said a case has been registered at New Usmanpur police station under Sections 290 (negligent conduct with respect to pulling down, repairing or constructing buildings) and 106 (causing death by negligence) of BNS against the house owner, Virender Kumar.Investigators are examining the exact cause of the collapse.Local people said the couple had been living in the house as tenants. A senior police officer said, “The building has six rented rooms on a floor and features a traditional roof structure in which iron strips are laid before being covered with stones and other material.”Residents also claimed that the tenants had been informally asked to vacate the premises over concerns regarding the building’s condition. Police said the claims are being verified. The couple had told people that they had planned to stay on until Raksha Bandhan and the festive season before shifting elsewhere.The tragedy has left behind Urmila’s 10-year-old son from her first marriage.Residents said Tinku and Urmila earned their livelihood through seasonal work. During the Raksha Bandhan season, they made rakhis, while at other times they worked as vegetable vendors.
