6 dead, 5 rescued in Delhi building collapse; FIR names PG owner

At least six persons died, and several others suffered injuries after a five-storey student PG building came crashing down in southwest Delhi's Satya Niketan on Sunday afternoon, turning a congested neighbourhood near Delhi University's South Campus into a frantic rescue zone. With fears that dozens could still be buried under tonnes of rubble, rescue teams are racing against time to reach those trapped inside the nearly 40-50-year-old structure.

Witnesses estimated that as many as 30 to 40 people could be trapped under the debris, although authorities are yet to confirm the figure. The collapse occurred around 1.30 pm while construction work was reportedly underway in the basement, raising questions over the building's condition and the work being carried out inside it.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the incident and said authorities were working at the site and assisting those affected. "The collapse of a building at Satya Niketan, Delhi is distressing. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. Praying for the speedy recovery of the injured. Authorities are working at the site and assisting those affected in the mishap," the PMO India said in a post on X.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta visited the AIIMS Trauma Centre and spoke with doctors and health officials to take stock of the condition of people who were rescued from the Satya Niketan building collapse site. Gupta also assured that strict action would be taken over the incident, saying, "No one will be spared."

BASEMENT WORK UNDERWAY BEFORE COLLAPSE

Police said construction work was underway in the basement when the building collapsed at around 1.30 pm. A PCR call was received at the South Campus police station at 1.34 pm regarding the collapse of a building near Nanakpura Gurdwara, police said in a statement. "The exact number of persons trapped/injured is still not known at present. Further details will be shared as and when confirmed," it added.

Police said they have identified the building's owner and formed teams to trace him. Delhi Police also filed an FIR against the owner, Hariram Bansal, a Gurugram resident.

Satya Niketan, located near Delhi University’s South Campus, has several buildings operating as student PG accommodations, hostels and eateries. Delhi-NCR has also witnessed heavy rains since Friday.

According to officials, the collapsed building was known as "Hostel Daze". The structure reportedly had around 15 rooms, with two to three students sharing each room, while a medical shop operated on the ground floor.

Rajen Chhetri, a local who works with the Delhi Police, said most of the students living in the building were from Keralam, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh and studied mainly at Motilal Nehru College, Atma Ram Sanatan Dharm College and Sri Venkateswara College. "They were paying around Rs 12,000 per bed," Chhetri said.

A local said the hostel was usually full and that many people could still be trapped under the debris. "The hostel was always full. So many people could still be trapped under the debris. The lanes are very congested, so it was difficult for rescue vehicles to arrive at the scene faster," the local said.

An eyewitness said the toll could have been higher had the collapse occurred on a working day, as several students had returned home for the weekend.

MULTI AGENCY RESCUE OPERATION UNDERWAY

Local police staff, Delhi Fire Services, CAT Ambulance and other emergency services were deployed at the spot. Teams from the National Disaster Response Force, Delhi Disaster Management Authority, Municipal Corporation of Delhi and Civil Defence also joined the rescue operation.

At least 12 fire tenders were pressed into service. Oxygen cylinders were also brought to the site to supply oxygen to people trapped beneath the rubble as rescuers worked to reach them.

Local residents joined the rescue effort immediately after the collapse, using their hands and whatever tools were available to remove debris and search for survivors.

Police and paramilitary personnel were deployed to control the crowd and keep the narrow lanes clear for ambulances and rescue vehicles. Police advised locals and onlookers to stay away from the site, saying the presence of bystanders was complicating the rescue operation.

Members of student organisations, including the NSUI and AISA, also reached the site to assist with the rescue effort.

CM, LG MONITOR RESCUE EFFORTS

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta visited the site and reviewed the rescue operation. She said a nearby building had been evacuated as a precautionary measure. "Every possible effort is being made to safely rescue those trapped and provide immediate assistance to the affected families," Gupta said in a post on X.

Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu said he had directed Delhi Police, Delhi Fire Services, the DDMA and other agencies to work in close coordination and expedite the rescue effort. "Praying for the safety and well-being of everyone affected. The situation is being closely monitored, and it will be ensured that every possible support reaches those in need," he said.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah cut short the inauguration ceremony for the BJP's new office in Goa after learning about the collapse.

Meanwhile, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal blamed the Delhi government for a series of accidents in the city and urged it to "wake up from its slumber". "The government needs to take action on a large scale to ensure the safety of citizens," Kejriwal said.