New Delhi: A six-storey building housing a paying guest accommodation collapsed in southwest Delhi’s Satya Niketan on Sunday afternoon, with several people feared trapped under the debris, officials said.
The building, which housed a 75-bed PG facility, collapsed around 1:30 pm, they said.
Rescue teams have pulled out at least six people from the rubble, while efforts are underway to locate and rescue others who may be trapped. Police, however, said two people had been rescued and did not give an estimate of those trapped.
The Delhi Police said local police, fire brigade personnel, ambulances and other emergency services were at the spot.
At least 12 fire tenders have been deployed at the site, while an excavator and other heavy machinery are being used to clear the debris and concrete slabs. Disaster response teams have also joined the rescue operation.
According to eyewitnesses, a large number of students were believed to be inside the building when it collapsed. A student at the site told ANI that cries for help could be heard from beneath the rubble.
Locals also joined the rescue effort, attempting to remove debris with their hands before heavy machinery arrived.
The building’s owner lives in Gurugram, officials said.
Satya Niketan, located near Delhi University’s South Campus, has a large population of students and paying guest accommodations.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta expressed concern over the incident and said rescue operations were being carried out 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,” she said.
She added that the situation was being closely monitored and all concerned agencies were working in coordination.
Local BJP MLA Anil Sharma, who was present at the site, said some students were still believed to be trapped inside the collapsed structure.
“Some students are even making calls from within. It appears there are still others trapped inside. Rescue efforts are ongoing,” he told reporters.
The cause of the collapse was not immediately known.
