Six people have died after a nearly 50-year-old multi-storey building collapsed in southwest Delhi’s Satya Niketan area, while 11 people have been rescued from the debris, officials said on Monday.
One more person was rescued during overnight operations but was declared dead after being taken to hospital, taking the death toll to six, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southwest) Amit Goel said.
Building collapses during repair work
The five-storey structure, including a basement, collapsed at around 1.30 pm on Sunday while repair work was reportedly underway in the basement.
The building housed a boys’ paying guest (PG) accommodation near Delhi University’s South Campus. Satya Niketan is a densely populated locality known for its student accommodations and eateries.
Rescue teams worked through the night to locate people feared trapped beneath the rubble.
Nearly 200 personnel join rescue operation
The Delhi Police, Delhi Fire Service, National Disaster Response Force and Delhi Disaster Management Authority took part in the large-scale rescue operation.
Around 200 emergency personnel were involved in the initial response. Narrow and congested lanes in the locality made it difficult for teams to access and clear the collapsed structure.
Locals claimed that water had accumulated in the basement after days of rain and may have weakened the building’s foundation. However, officials have not yet established the exact cause of the collapse.
Inquiry ordered as safety concerns grow
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has ordered a magisterial inquiry and directed that an FIR be registered against the building owner. Police have registered a case against the owner and others.
The Delhi government said those found responsible would be held accountable.
The incident has also renewed concerns about the safety of multi-storey buildings and PG accommodations in Satya Niketan, where residential properties have increasingly been converted into student housing over the years.