At least three people have died, and 5 others are in critical condition after a building collapsed near Shiv Mandir in Delhi’s Satya Niketan area on Sunday afternoon, PTI quoted police sources. A major rescue operation is underway, with several people feared trapped under the debris.
The collapse was reported around 1:30 pm, following which five fire tenders and police teams rushed to the spot. Rescue and relief operations are underway, with local police personnel, Delhi Fire Services, CAT ambulances and other emergency teams deployed at the site. An NDRF team has also reached the location.
"One more person was rescued from the debris of the building collapse in Satya Niketan. So far, eight people have been rescued from the debris. Of the eight rescued, one person has died," a Delhi Fire Service official said.
Delhi Police said the exact number of people trapped or injured is not known at present. The rescued people were taken to the AIIMS Trauma Centre and were reported to be in critical condition.
In an X post, Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed concern over the building collapse in Delhi's Satya Niketan and said he spoke with senior officials to assess the situation.
"Deeply distressed by the collapse of a building at Satya Niketan in Delhi. Spoke with the Chief Minister, Commissioner of Police, Delhi, and the Director General, NDRF, and assessed the situation on the ground. The local administration and the NDRF are conducting intensive rescue operations in close coordination. The injured are being provided with all necessary medical assistance. Praying for the speedy recovery of all those injured," Amit Shah said.
CM Rekha Gupta Reviews Rescue Operation
Expressing concern over the incident, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said in a post on X, "Deeply concerned by the building collapse incident at Satya Niketan, RK Puram. Teams from DDMA, NDRF, Delhi Fire Services, Delhi Police, MCD, CATS and Civil Defence are carrying out rescue operations on a war footing. The adjacent building has been vacated as a precautionary measure. Every possible effort is being made to safely rescue those trapped and provide immediate assistance to the affected families. The situation is being closely monitored, and all concerned agencies are working in coordination. The safety and well-being of every citizen remain our highest priority."
BJP MLA Says Students Calling From Beneath Rubble
According to initial reports, the building housed a paying guest (PG) accommodation for students. BJP MLA Anil Sharma said students staying in the building were among those feared trapped.
"This is a deeply tragic incident; there could be nothing more heartbreaking. Students come here from various places to study and stay in PGs in this building; the structure has collapsed. While it is difficult to state the exact number- whether there are five, ten, or twenty students- we know for certain that students are trapped inside. Two students have already been rescued by the NDRF and MCD. Some students are even making calls from within, and it appears there are still others trapped inside, so rescue efforts are ongoing. We are praying to God, and the Chief Minister has dispatched a full team here. The entire government is deeply concerned and focused on ensuring the students are rescued; that is our primary objective," Sharma said.
Eyewitness Describes Chaos At Spot
An eyewitness near the collapsed building described the chaos following the incident and said several people, including children, may still be trapped beneath the debris.
"I have a shop nearby. We were sitting inside it when we suddenly heard a sound, like the rumble of an earthquake. We rushed out immediately; there was a lot of smoke and dust here. The entire building had collapsed. Some bodies were recovered, and they also rescued four children who were still breathing. Sounds are still coming from within the rubble, children crying out, "Save us, save us!"... There are at least 25–30 children. There was a boys' PG and a girls' PG here nearby. 4-5 people have been rescued; 2-3 bodies have been recovered, and more are likely to be found. They were constructing a basement. They had reinforced the upper structure, but the pillars at the bottom were weak. They were renovating the building, specifically to create a rental space on the ground floor, and that caused the collapse. Labourers were working down below and got buried..." ANI quoted the eyewitness.
FIR Registered, Eight Rescued
Delhi Police is registering an FIR in connection with the incident.
According to the latest update from Delhi Police, the building had a basement and five upper floors and was being used as PG accommodation. Repair work was underway in the basement when the building collapsed.
So far, eight people have been rescued and shifted to hospitals. Search and rescue operations are continuing at the site.