Jagran Correspondent, New Delhi: An approximately 50-year-old, five-storey building housing a boys' hostel in South Delhi's Satya Niketan collapsed around 1:30 PM on Sunday, leaving several people trapped under the debris.

Following the collapse, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) deployed two teams to the site to launch rescue operations. Over 70 personnel continuously worked on the ground to locate and rescue those trapped beneath the rubble. Two additional teams were kept in reserve for rotation as needed. Rescuers faced significant challenges during the operation, with locating survivors within the debris proving to be the most difficult task.

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How Trapped Individuals Were Located And Extricated

To locate trapped individuals, the NDRF deployed specialised equipment, including life detectors and trained sniffer dogs. Rescuers also gathered inputs from eyewitnesses at the scene and students living in the PG.

Once the locations of survivors were confirmed, workers used heavy-duty equipment, such as diamond chain saws, hydraulic jacks, combi cutters, and plasma cutters, to cut through materials and create a path through the debris.

At the same time, rescuers installed high-strength inflatable bags and shoring equipment to support unstable parts of the debris, reducing the risk of further collapse and ensuring the safety of both rescue personnel and trapped individuals. Teams worked quickly and carefully during the extraction. They pulled an unconscious man from the debris in about 15 minutes and safely evacuated two conscious victims in about 30 minutes.

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On-Site Supervision And Ongoing Rescue Operations

Sunil Singh, Commanding Officer of the NDRF's 16th Battalion, along with his officers and rescue personnel, supervised the rescue operation on the spot. DIG (Operations) Satwinder Singh Sudan was also present at the site to monitor the operation.

Given the condition of the collapsed structure and the possibility of more people being trapped, officials said that rescue operations will continue as personnel examine every part of the debris.