Delhi Hostel Building Collapse: Rescue Teams Hunt for Survivors in Rubble
A building collapse in Delhi's Satya Niketan area has killed one and trapped dozens. Rescue teams are using excavators to find survivors.
A multi-storey building in the Satya Niketan area of New Delhi collapsed on Sunday, resulting in at least one fatality and leaving an estimated 30 to 40 people trapped beneath the debris. The structure, which functioned as a boys' hostel, came down in a locality that is densely populated and widely known for private student housing near a Delhi University campus.
Emergency response units, including local police, fire services, and the national disaster response force, have been deployed to the site. Rescue operations are ongoing through the night, with heavy machinery such as excavators and cranes being used to carefully clear concrete slabs and rubble in an effort to reach those still trapped.
According to fire officer Abhilash Malik, the number of people unaccounted for could be significant. Local lawmaker Anil Sharma confirmed that some individuals have been pulled from the wreckage, and that rescuers are in communication with several others who are using mobile phones to guide the teams to their locations. At least two survivors have been hospitalised in critical condition.
The precise cause of the structural failure has not yet been determined. However, such incidents are not uncommon during the monsoon season, which spans from June to September. The heavy and sustained rainfall during this period often weakens older or poorly maintained structures, making them susceptible to collapse.