NEW DELHI: Three people have died after a portion of an under-construction house collapsed in the Harsh Vihar area of northeast Delhi on Sunday evening, October 25. The incident triggered a large-scale rescue operation involving the Delhi Fire Service, police and disaster response teams.

The collapse occurred in the Milan Garden area near Seva Dham, where work was reportedly under way to add another floor to an existing single-storey structure. Initial reports said at least two people were feared trapped beneath the debris. However, subsequent reports on Monday morning said three bodies had been recovered as rescue operations continued.

The incident has once again raised concerns about construction safety and compliance with building regulations in the national capital, which has witnessed several deadly building collapses in recent months.

Rescue teams rush to the site

According to reports, the Delhi Fire Service received a distress call at around 6.46 pm on Sunday. Fire tenders were immediately dispatched, and emergency personnel began searching through the debris for people who might have been trapped.

Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Delhi Disaster Management Authority, Delhi Police and other emergency agencies joined the operation. Local residents also assisted in the initial rescue efforts.

The narrow access routes in the densely populated locality reportedly made it difficult for rescue personnel to identify and reach the precise location of the collapsed structure.

Officials initially feared that two people were trapped under the rubble. They were believed to be a father and son, reportedly aged 60 and 36. Subsequent reports confirmed that three bodies had been recovered, although details about all the victims were not immediately available in the initial accounts.

Additional floor was under construction

Preliminary information indicated that the building was an old single-storey structure on which an additional floor was being constructed.

According to local accounts, workers were carrying out slab-related construction when the structure gave way. One account suggested that the existing slab was weak and collapsed while a new concrete slab was being laid above it.

However, authorities had not established the exact cause of the collapse in the initial reports. The sequence of construction activities, the condition of the existing structure and compliance with safety requirements will need to be examined as part of the investigation.

Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra visited the site along with other officials and said the circumstances surrounding the collapse would be investigated. He also referred to concerns about unauthorised construction in the city.

Officials review rescue efforts

Delhi ministers Kapil Mishra and Ashish Sood visited the affected area as emergency agencies continued their work. Officials said rescue teams had been deployed to locate victims and clear the debris.

The administration also indicated that action would be taken against anyone found responsible for violations connected with the incident. Any determination of responsibility will depend on the findings of the investigation.

Authorities are expected to examine whether the construction had the necessary approvals and whether appropriate structural safety measures were followed. The exact cause of the collapse and the circumstances leading to the deaths remain subject to official investigation.

Fresh concerns over building safety in Delhi

The Harsh Vihar incident comes after other deadly building collapses in Delhi. A building collapse in the New Seemapuri area earlier in October reportedly killed several people, while a multi-storey building collapse in Satya Niketan in September also resulted in multiple fatalities.

The repeated incidents have renewed calls for stricter enforcement of building regulations, proper inspection of ageing structures and stronger oversight of construction and renovation work.

Experts generally stress the importance of structural assessments before adding floors to existing buildings, particularly where the strength of the original foundation and supporting slabs may be uncertain. Construction work must also follow approved plans and prescribed safety standards.

The investigation into the Harsh Vihar collapse is expected to establish the precise cause and determine whether any construction-related violations contributed to the tragedy.