Building collapses in Vivek Vihar, 5 hurt

In a major incident on Tuesday morning, a section of a building under construction collapsed in Jwala Nagar, Vivek Vihar, leaving at least five people injured and prompting an urgent rescue operation by the fire department and disaster-management teams.

The Delhi Fire Service (DFS) and teams from the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) swiftly responded, with officials working to ensure no one remains trapped under the rubble.

Fire officials said the collapse occurred around 9:50 am at house no 239/C, Gali no 6, Jwala Nagar, where the 86-year-old resident and her family were involved in constructing a third-floor hall. When the new concrete slab gave way, five people identified as family members and workers were immediately shifted to the hospital. A fire department officer said, “We dispatched five fire engines after getting the call and are now conducting a detailed search to confirm no one is buried under debris.”

The complainant, Avinish (son of the homeowner), told police that while the work was still in progress, the collapsed portion of the building crashed almost instantaneously, before anyone could react. “We were finishing the hall above when the slab fell,” he said. “I heard a loud snap, and by the next moment I found our workers and mother injured.” Investigators said they found the victims were shifting fresh concrete for the hall’s roof when the structure gave way.

The DFS reported sending out five fire tenders to manage the site, clear debris and support rescue. Heavy machinery and manpower are being used for shoring and support to prevent further collapse. Local residents said the area was already crowded with narrow lanes and added that work was being done without adequate barricades, which may have contributed to the hazard.

Municipal authorities, along with the DDMA, have sealed off the nearby stretch of the lane and evacuated residents from adjoining rooms. They said no death has been reported so far, but the search continues for any additional victims who may be trapped or missing.

The building is a three-storey residential house into which the family was adding a hall on the third floor. The time of the incident has triggered fresh concerns over construction safety in congested colonies. In recent years, several similar incidents in Delhi have raised alarm over the use of weak formwork, inadequate shoring and unplanned load extensions.

Local construction regulators and police said they will review permits issued for the site and examine whether proper scaffolding and structural calculations were followed.

Meanwhile, the DDMA has asked residents in the lane to avoid parked vehicles and authorised personnel from entering the site until the area is declared safe. They also counselled neighbours to report any signs of structural stress or water leakage in adjacent buildings.