Building collapses in Delhi's Satya Niketan, several students feared trapped

A building collapsed in New Delhi's Satya Niketan area on Sunday (Sep 6). The building is reportedly being used as a hostel for children. Director of Delhi Fire Services said that a call was received about a building collapse in Delhi's Satya Niketan area. Several are feared to be trapped. Delhi police said that the rescue operation is underway. This is the third building collapse in less than five months in the national capital.

The building was a five-storey building housing a boys’ PG. The Delhi Fire Services received an alert about the collapse at around 1:30 pm, following which eight fire tenders, along with fire brigade personnel, CAT ambulances and other emergency services, were deployed at the site. Ten people have been rescued so far, while a rescue operation remains underway. A team of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has also reached the spot.

According to police, a case in connection with the building collapse is being registered. The police are also searching for Anand Bansal, who is reportedly the owner of the building. According to preliminary information, the building had been vacated around a year ago. However, a PG facility was reportedly started again at the premises around two to three months ago. Police are now investigating the circumstances under which the building was reopened and the PG began operating again.

Delhi CM Rekha Gupta reacts

Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta expressed concern over the building collapse at Satya Niketan and noted that the adjacent building was vacated as a precautionary measure. "Deeply concerned by the building collapse incident at Satya Niketan, RK Puram. Teams from DDMA, NDRF, Delhi Fire Services, Delhi Police, MCD, CATS and Civil Defence are carrying out rescue operations 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," the CM said in a post on X. She said that the situation is being closely monitored, and all concerned agencies are working in coordination. She assured that the safety and well-being of every citizen is the "highest priority."

An eyewitness spoke to news agency ANI and said that all students inside the building are trapped in the debris. “The building that collapsed is called 'Hostel Daze'. Right next to it is another building that collapsed. 'Hostel Daze' is a dedicated boys' PG; it was a five-story building. The adjacent building also collapsed... All the students who were inside their rooms got trapped under the rubble. We will only know the exact number of trapped students by checking the registration records. The fire brigade and rescue teams have been at work for about 15-20 minutes—ever since the collapse—doing their absolute best to pull people out. Many students have suffered severe injuries. Rescuers are pulling them out with great difficulty,” he said.