Rescuers are racing to find survivors after a six-storey building collapsed Sunday afternoon in southwest Delhi's Satya Niketan area with several people feared trapped under the rubble.
The building, a 75-bed paying guest accommodation known as "Hostel Daze," collapsed around 1:30 pm. Officials said six people have been rescued so far, three of whom were taken to hospital though police gave a more conservative figure of two confirmed rescues. Authorities have not disclosed how many remain trapped.
Satya Niketan, located near Delhi University's South Campus, houses a large student population. An eyewitness said at least 50 students were believed to be inside the building at the time as most residents were home on a Sunday. A student at the scene told reporters he could hear cries for help coming from beneath the debris.
Videos from the site showed one person pinned under a concrete slab as others tried to lift it free while locals used their bare hands to dig through rubble even before rescue teams arrived.
At least 12 fire tenders have been deployed along with an excavator, with more heavy machinery en route to help clear slabs and girders. Disaster response teams and riot-control units have also been sent to assist rescue efforts and manage the crowd gathered at the site.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said she was closely monitoring the situation also adding that rescue operations were underway "on a war footing." She confirmed that a neighboring building had been evacuated as a precaution and that all relevant agencies were coordinating to ensure the safety of affected families.
Local BJP MLA Anil Sharma present at the scene and said some trapped individuals were still making phone calls from inside the debris also indicating survivors remain unaccounted for as rescue work continues.
