New Delhi: A five-storey building used as a boys’ paying guest (PG) accommodation collapsed in Delhi’s Satya Niketan area on Sunday afternoon, killing at least three people and leaving several others feared trapped under the debris.
The collapse occurred at around 1:30 pm near Nanakpura Gurdwara and Shiv Mandir in the densely populated locality, close to Delhi University’s South Campus. Delhi Police said a PCR call regarding the incident was received at the South Campus police station at 1:34 pm.
By Sunday evening, police sources said three people had died, and five others were critically injured. Multiple people had also been rescued, while the exact number of those still trapped remained unclear as rescue teams continued searching the rubble.
The building, identified in several reports as “Hostel Daze”, was being used as a student PG. The area around Satya Niketan is densely populated with student accommodations, hostels, eateries and shops because of its proximity to Delhi University’s South Campus.
Local residents said a large number of students were staying in the building. Some people believed to be trapped beneath the debris were reportedly able to make phone calls, allowing rescue personnel and people outside to establish contact with them, according to reports.
Eyewitnesses described hearing a loud rumbling sound before the structure came down. Several residents immediately rushed to the site and began removing debris with their hands and whatever equipment was available while emergency teams moved in.
The Delhi Fire Service, Delhi Police, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Delhi Disaster Management Authority, Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Centralised Accident and Trauma Services and Civil Defence teams were involved in the rescue operation. Fire tenders, ambulances, heavy equipment and specialised rescue personnel were deployed at the site.
Those rescued were taken to the AIIMS Trauma Centre, with several reported to be in critical condition. NDRF personnel, including a dog squad, were also deployed to search for people who could still be buried beneath the rubble.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta visited the site and said rescue operations were being conducted on a war footing. She said multiple agencies were working together to rescue those trapped and provide immediate assistance. As a precautionary measure, an adjoining building was also evacuated.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences over the loss of lives and said he was praying for the speedy recovery of those injured. Union Health Minister J P Nadda also spoke with Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and assured support from the Health Ministry, including assistance from AIIMS and central government hospitals.
Questions have emerged over the condition of the building and work reportedly being carried out in its basement before the collapse. Local residents told media organisations that construction or repair work was underway and that water had accumulated in the basement. Some residents also alleged that the foundation was weak.
However, authorities have not yet officially established the cause of the collapse.
Reports also indicated that the building had several rooms accommodating multiple students. Local accounts suggested that many residents were students from states including Kerala, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh who attended colleges in the South Campus area.
These details, however, have not been officially confirmed by authorities.
Rescue operations were continuing into the evening, with authorities focused on locating anyone still trapped and safely removing unstable portions of the debris.
The final number of casualties and the circumstances that led to the collapse are expected to become clearer after the rescue operation and subsequent investigation.
