Chandigarh: 5-Decade-Old Mehfil Hotel Building Collapses In Sector 17 – Caught On Camera

Chandigarh News: A commercial building in Sector 17 collapsed days after it was declared unsafe and sealed. A video showed the five-decade-old structure come crashing down.

A five-decade-old commercial building in Chandigarh's Sector 17 collapsed on Monday morning. The building had been declared unsafe and sealed days ago.

Source : X/@DuttShekhar

A five-decade-old commercial building near the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Chandigarh’s Sector 17 collapsed on Monday morning. The building had earlier been declared unsafe by the local administration and sealed. So the collapse did not cause any casualties.

According to news agency IANS, eyewitnesses reported that the collapse occurred around 7 a.m. The adjoining building, once home to the famed Mehfil restaurant, also suffered partial damage and developed cracks due to the impact.  

Mehfil Hotel Building collapsed at Sector 17, Chandigarh. #Chandigarh #chandigarhplaza #Plaza #PlazaGrande #hotel #collapse pic.twitter.com/RY5gmaFCST

— Anshul N Savi (@AnshulNSavi) January 6, 2025

Three pillars of Hotel Mehfil developed cracks a week ago following some renovation work, Indian Express reported citing sources. 

Police and fire brigade teams were quick to arrive at the scene, and the area had already been barricaded as a precautionary measure after the building was declared unsafe. Authorities revealed that tenants were undertaking significant renovation work in the building before it was marked unfit for use due to cracks in its pillars and walls.  

Sanjeev Rana, who owns a studio near the collapsed building, told Indian Express that “when cracks developed a week ago, even adjacent buildings had shaken.”

Chandigarh Deputy Commissioner (DC) Nishant Yadav informed that the estate office had issued a notice to the owner because “the revised building plan was not approved and the renovation was being done without nod”, Indian Express reported.

The Decline Of Chandigarh Sector 17

Sector 17, a shopping plaza designed by renowned Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier, was once a bustling hub and a pedestrian’s paradise. However, over the years, it has witnessed a decline in footfall and businesses, losing its old-world charm.  

Shopkeepers attribute the downturn to competition from modern air-conditioned malls, which have become preferred destinations for shoppers. Several iconic establishments in Sector 17, such as Lyon’s Restaurant, Kwality restaurant, Blue Ice, Indian Coffee House, and Shangrila, have shut down, leaving only memories for long-time residents and patrons.  

The Mehfil restaurant, once a landmark for locals, is among the establishments that symbolised the area’s golden era. The closure of other notable outlets such as Gymkhana Pub, Bhatura King, Deepak Radios, and Jain Jewellers has further underscored the area’s decline.