Those responsible won't be spared, says Minister Sood
Conducts joint inspection of accident site in Janakpuri
Delhi’s Urban Development Minister Ashish Sood on Saturday conducted a joint inspection of the accident site in Janakpuri and warned that those responsible would “not be spared under any circumstances”.
Accompanied by senior officials from the Public Works Department (PWD), Delhi Jal Board (DJB), Traffic Police, Revenue Department and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), the minister reviewed safety lapses and directed immediate corrective measures.
Calling the incident “extremely serious,” Sood said it reflected systemic negligence rather than a mere accident. He announced a comprehensive technical and administrative inquiry and a safety audit of all ongoing infrastructure works in Janakpuri to prevent similar tragedies.
Following Chief Minister Rekha Gupta’s directions, the government has adopted a zero-tolerance approach. Officials found prima facie negligent have been suspended with immediate effect. An FIR has been registered against the DJB and the contractor concerned, and legal action, including arrests, has been initiated where warranted. Sood said if any DJB officials were found culpable, they will also face strict action.
To improve safety, the minister instructed the PWD, DJB and the MCD to ensure proper barricading, lighting, reflectors, traffic marshals and mandatory police permissions before starting any construction work. He stressed better inter-departmental coordination to avoid such mishaps.
To ease traffic on the busy stretch connecting Vikaspuri, the authorities have arranged two-way movement on a single carriageway.
Sood also noted that the DJB had issued a safety circular on January 24, but lapses still occurred. He said he would formally write to all agencies, including MCD, to fix accountability.
Reiterating that the police probe would be independent, the minister said named complaints and arrests would follow based on findings. He assured that the government would take all necessary steps to prevent future negligence and ensure public safety.
