A building collapse in Delhi’s Satya Niketan area on Sunday triggered a major rescue operation after people were feared trapped beneath the debris. Emergency teams and police personnel rushed to the site following the incident, with authorities working to locate and evacuate those caught inside.
The Delhi Fire Department received information about the collapse at around 1:30 pm. Disaster response personnel were subsequently deployed to assist with the search and rescue operation.
Delhi Police said six people had been rescued and taken to hospitals as the operation continued. Officials were also assessing the structure and surrounding area while rescue personnel searched through the rubble.
According to information gathered during the initial assessment, the building was reportedly around 40 to 50 years old. It consisted of a basement and five upper floors and was being used as paying guest accommodation. Repair work was reportedly being carried out in the basement when the structure collapsed.
The incident drew sharp reactions from Aam Aadmi Party leaders, with former Delhi Chief Minister and AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal describing the collapse as “extremely tragic and alarming”. He expressed hope that those trapped would be rescued quickly and accused the Delhi government of failing to prevent similar incidents.
Kejriwal said, “The incident of the building collapse in Satya Niketan, Delhi, is extremely tragic and alarming. I pray to God that the people trapped in the debris are rescued safely and quickly. Due to the government’s negligence in Delhi, many such accidents have already occurred. The government must wake up from its slumber. There is a need to take large-scale action to ensure the safety of citizens.”
AAP MP Atishi also expressed concern over the incident and called for immediate rescue efforts. She said the possibility of students being trapped under the debris was particularly distressing and urged the administration to ensure that those caught beneath the rubble were brought out safely.
Atishi later demanded a high-level investigation into the collapse and called for strict action against anyone found responsible for negligence.
AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj meanwhile alleged that unchecked construction activity and corruption among civic authorities had contributed to repeated building-related accidents in Delhi. He claimed the collapsed premises were being used as an illegal PG facility and alleged that excavation work was being carried out in the basement during the monsoon. These claims have been made by Bharadwaj and have not been independently established in the source material.
AAP leader and former Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi also criticised the BJP-led civic administration, alleging failures in enforcing construction and safety regulations. She questioned why residents continued to bear the consequences of such incidents.
Meanwhile, rescue operations remained underway as officials continued efforts to establish the circumstances that led to the collapse.
