Gurgaon: In a matter of seconds, balconies across three floors came crashing down one after another at a 30-year-old house in Sushant Lok-3 on Sunday. The second-floor slab gave way first, fell on the balcony below and brought that down too, before the debris smashed through the ground-floor projection. The owner of the second-floor house and a private contractor, who were there to inspect the ageing balcony for repairs, were seriously injured.The incident took place at house no. 52 in Block B1. Cracks had developed in the second-floor balcony, prompting owner Kanhaiya Yadav to call a contractor to inspect it and plan repairs. The two were examining the damaged slab when it suddenly collapsed.“The falling concrete struck the first-floor balcony with such force that it too gave way. The debris then hit the projecting slab on the ground floor, bringing down balcony projections across all three levels in seconds,” a passerby said.Yadav was rushed to a private hospital and was said to be in serious condition. The contractor is also undergoing treatment. A team from Sector 56 station reached the spot after being alerted, while RWA members too visited the house.The collapse could have turned fatal. The family living on the first floor was inside the house, but escaped because the balcony fell outwards. Those living on the ground floor were away.The incident brought back memories of the Chintels Paradiso collapse on Feb 10, 2022, where a floor gave way and triggered a vertical cave-in through multiple levels, killing two residents.The collapse also renewed concerns over maintenance of ageing houses in Sushant Lok-2 and 3. RWA representatives said balconies and projecting slabs had developed problems in the past and residents had raised complaints with various departments.Pawan Yadav, RWA president, said many houses were now 30-35 years old and needed structural maintenance. “Prolonged water accumulation on rooftops can cause dampness and weaken balconies and projecting slabs over time,” he said.He said residents had repeatedly approached the town and country planning department and other offices, but no permanent solution had emerged. He urged owners of older houses to get balconies and rooftops inspected periodically and carry out repairs in time.District town planner (enforcement) Amit Madholia said the issue concerned maintenance of private properties. “These are privately owned houses and the department cannot directly intervene,” he said.
