Delhi building collapse: 4 dead, rescuers look for survivors with hi-tech devices

A five-story building collapsed near the Saket Metro station in South Delhi on Saturday evening, leaving four people dead and initiating a massive emergency response amid fears that multiple individuals remain trapped under the debris. Search and rescue efforts are currently underway at the scene.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has arrived at the spot to oversee the entire situation. Last night, she expressed her deep concerns over the incident. “Deeply concerned by the building collapse incident near Saket Metro Station,” she said in a post on X. She added that rescue teams were working “on a war footing” and that every effort was being made to save those trapped.

“The safety and well-being of every citizen remain our highest priority,” her post read.

The building, with a coaching institute, cafes and offices operating in it and construction work underway on the third floor, collapsed in the Saeedulajab area at around 7:44 pm, close to the busy metro corridor. The structure, which was reportedly partly under construction, came crashing down suddenly, leaving behind a massive mound of debris.

Emergency teams continued intensive search operations through the night following an evacuation incident. A total of 10 people have been extricated from the rubble, with seven pulled out by the Delhi Fire Service and three were extricated by the public and Police Control Room personnel before fire crews arrived.

All of them were immediately transported to the AIIMS Jai Prakash Narayan Apex Trauma Centre for medical attention. Two people were declared dead upon arrival, while two died undergoing treatment. Six people have been kept under observation presently.

RESCUE OPERATIONS IN FULL SWING

As soon as the collapse was reported, multiple emergency teams rushed to the site. The Delhi Fire Service led the initial response and later scaled up operations after the magnitude of the collapse became clear.

Additional manpower, senior officers, and specialised rescue equipment were deployed, including water tenders and light vehicles to assist in clearing debris.

By evening, the entire structure was confirmed to have collapsed, prompting reinforcement from multiple agencies.

Balwant Yadav, whose daughter was injured in the incident, told PTI that 25-year-old Neelam was inside the canteen next to the collapsed building when the structure suddenly came down. Neelam, who recently returned from abroad after completing her MBBS, had been preparing for her postgraduate medical entrance examination at Arise Medical Academy in Saket.

According to Yadav, around 30 to 35 students were present in the canteen at the time of the collapse. Most of them were aspirants preparing for various medical entrance examinations at the coaching institute. "My daughter suffered a fracture in her leg and is currently undergoing treatment," he said.

Local residents said the canteen and surrounding area were regularly crowded with students and office-goers, making the location a busy hub throughout the day.

Eighteen hours have passed since the incident, and the rescue operation is still underway.

5–6 PEOPLE STILL FEARED TRAPPED

Civil Defence officials at the site said that several people were still believed to be trapped beneath the rubble.

Deputy Chief Warden (Headquarters) of Civil Defence, Dharamvir Sejwal, said, “All of my seniors are here. Five to six people are still trapped. Rescue work is underway.”

He also indicated possible lapses linked to the building, noting that the structure was located in a commercial area and suggesting irregularities may have played a role.

“This is a commercial area. A mistake has been made,” he said.

MULTI-AGENCY COORDINATION ON GROUND

A coordinated emergency response has been activated involving:

• National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)
• Delhi Fire Service
• Delhi Police
• Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA)
• Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD)
• Civil Defence teams
• CATS ambulance services

Floodlights, cutting equipment, and heavy rescue tools have been deployed as teams carefully remove debris layer by layer in search of survivors.

RESCUE EFFORTS CONTINUED OVERNIGHT

By around 8:30 pm, additional fire service personnel were rushed in as operations intensified. Emergency lighting was installed as rescuers continued working under floodlights.

At least 10 of the rescued victims were pulled out earlier in the operation. However, two of them died in the morning.

BUILDING REPORTEDLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Preliminary reports suggest the building was partially under construction at the time of the collapse. However, authorities have not yet confirmed whether structural faults, construction activity, or other factors caused the incident.

The total number of occupants inside at the time remains unclear.

In the aftermath of the incident, two engineers who were working with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), received their suspension order.

FIR AGAINST OWNER

Delhi Police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against the property owner.

Taking serious note of the incident, law enforcement authorities have booked the building owner under stringent charges, including culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

The accused landlord has gone into hiding since the accident. Multiple police teams have been mobilised to track him down, and continuous raids are currently being conducted at several suspected locations to secure his arrest.

RACE AGAINST TIME

As night fell, the rescue operation turned into a race against time, with fears growing that more victims could still be trapped under tonnes of concrete and debris.

Officials have not yet commented on the cause of the collapse. A detailed investigation is expected once rescue operations conclude.

Further updates are awaited as search efforts continue.

WHAT POLICE SAID

According to DCP South Delhi Anant Mittal, police received information at around 7:35 pm about an explosion and the collapse of a building, followed within minutes by a PCR call reporting the incident. Personnel from Mehrauli police station were immediately rushed to the spot, where it was found that an old building had collapsed and its debris had fallen onto a nearby porta cabin structure, reportedly being used as a canteen for medical students.

Authorities feared that several people could be trapped under the rubble. Rescue teams have so far evacuated nine people from the site, while details regarding their injuries are being assessed. A green corridor was created to facilitate the swift movement of multiple ambulances, and rescue operations are continuing with the coordinated efforts of the NDRF, DDMA, Delhi Fire Services and Delhi Police.