South Delhi building collapse: CM Gupta assures assistance to affected families

A building collapsed in the Satya Niketan area of south Delhi on Sunday, with several people feared trapped under the debris, and rescue operations underway, a Delhi Fire Service official said.

Eight fire tenders and multiple rescue teams of various departments were rushed to the spot, they added.

Police teams also arrived at the site and cordoned off the area as emergency personnel launched a search and rescue operation.

Locals and eyewitnesses said they immediately joined the rescue efforts using their hands and available equipment to remove debris in search of individuals trapped underneath.

Firefighters also rescued some people from the rubble and rushed them to nearby hospitals for treatment, DFS said.

However, there has been no immediate official confirmation regarding the number of people trapped, rescued, or injured.

Eyewitness accounts of the nature of the collapsed structure vary; while some locals described it as a house, others noted that it was being used as a student hostel.

Some individuals at the scene suspect that more than 15 people may be trapped under the rubble, but this figure has not been officially confirmed. Sources indicate that it was a four-storey building.

Visuals from the incident spot also showed a leg trapped under the debris, and fire officials are removing the rubble to rescue the person.

As of now, the Delhi Police have not issued a statement regarding the incident or the circumstances that led to the collapse.

The fire department is also working to determine whether anyone else remains trapped inside. Further details are awaited.

Police are repeatedly advising locals and onlookers to stay away from the site.

Following the collapse of a building, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said that multiple agencies are carrying out rescue operations and assured immediate assistance to the affected families.

Eight fire tenders and police teams were dispatched to the site, where rescue operations are currently underway, according to a Delhi Fire Service official.

"Deeply concerned by the building collapse incident at Satya Niketan, RK Puram," Gupta said in a post on X.

Teams from the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Delhi Fire Services, Delhi Police, Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Centralised Accident and Trauma Services (CATS) and Civil Defence are carrying out the rescue operation, she said.

The adjacent building has been vacated as a precautionary measure, Gupta said, adding that every possible effort was being made to safely rescue those trapped and provide immediate assistance to the affected families.

She stated that the situation is being closely monitored and that all relevant agencies are working in coordination.

Delhi Home Minister Ashish Sood also mentioned that rescue and relief operations are in progress, with teams on the ground providing necessary assistance.

"We are closely monitoring the situation and have directed the concerned teams to take every necessary measure to ensure the safety of those at the site. The safety and well-being of our citizens remains our foremost priority," he added.