NEW DELHI: Uncertainty looms large in Lalita Park where residents of 38 buildings have been sent eviction notices following the house collapse that killed 69 people on Monday. Asked to vacate these buildings within three days, the residents claim they don't have any other place to go and question the basis on which their buildings have been declared dangerous.

While the buildings were supposed to be vacated by Friday, MCD claimed now it is waiting for experts from Central Building Research Institute, Roorkee to arrive in Delhi on Saturday and give their opinion on the matter. ''Our engineers have given the notices based on their preliminary observations but we need to get the opinion of experts,'' said an official. The expert sent from MCD to Roorkee to hold discussions on the methodology and modalities of carrying out a survey of buildings around the Yamuna will start work from Saturday.

Residents said 16 of the buildings that have been served notices do not have basements. In fact, there are other buildings in the area that are in far worse condition. ''Why have we been asked to evacuate the building? Neither does our building have a basement nor is it made of inferior material. We have been living here for 12 years and have got the building inspected by an engineer who told us it is safe. Why should we suffer for our neighbour's carelessness?'' said Tripta Gupta, a resident.

MCD officials have no answers. ''Why buildings without basements were sent notices is something that I will have to find out. It might have been due cracks on outer structure of the building. The survey was done by executive engineers and they must have seen something that made them declare the buildings unsafe,'' said a senior MCD official.

The buildings will have to be completely vacated. If the occupants do not leave, the buildings will be sealed by MCD. ''In case, a particular building is found to be in a bad shape, it will have to be demolished,'' said an MCD official.

Residents claim that moving out within three days is a tall order. Renu, the sole breadwinner for her family of seven, is among the people who have to vacate the building. ''I earn Rs 4000 a month with which I feed my five children and elderly mother. I will not be able to find rent at this rate anywhere else. Moreover, it is not easy to find a place in Delhi if you have a family with you. In three days, we will be out in the streets,'' she said.

Many of the buildings are part of the Ramesh Park cloth market. Shopowners were dismayed at the sudden order to evict the shops. On Friday, they could be seen huddled in groups, angry and worried. ''There is a big question mark on our future. The notice from MCD is arbitrary. Who knows, tomorrow they may send eviction notices to more buildings. We employ many other people — handicraft workers, artists, shop assistants — and they all will lose their jobs. What am I supposed to tell them,'' said a shopkeeper, Sham Sunder. MCD claimed the divisional commissioner is organising relief for poor residents affected by this move. The others will simply have to find another place to shift to.