Several people are feared trapped after a building housing a hostel collapsed in Delhi’s Satya Niketan area Sunday afternoon, triggering a major rescue operation. The building collapsed around 1.30 pm near Shiv Mandir in Satya Niketan, with fire tenders, police personnel and other emergency teams rushing to the site. One person had been rescued from the debris as search operations continued, while the exact number of people trapped remained unclear. Visuals from the site showed a large portion of the structure reduced to rubble as emergency personnel and local residents searched through the debris. A crowd also gathered near the site following the collapse.
Hostel operated in building
According to initial reports, a hostel was being operated from the building, raising concerns that students could be among those trapped. Authorities, however, had not confirmed the number or identities of people inside the structure when it collapsed. Nearby buildings were evacuated as a precaution while rescue teams worked at the site. Senior officials of the Delhi administration also reached the area to oversee the operation. The Delhi Fire Service said fire tenders and police teams had been deployed after information about the collapse was received. Rescue personnel were working to determine how many people might be trapped and safely remove them from beneath the debris.
Collapse amid persistent rain
The incident comes after persistent rainfall in Delhi over the past two days, which has caused widespread waterlogging and traffic disruption across the national capital and neighbouring areas.
However, authorities have not yet established what caused the Satya Niketan building to collapse, and it remains unclear whether the recent rainfall played a role. Officials are expected to examine the structural condition of the building as part of the investigation.
Rescue operations were continuing at the time of filing, with authorities yet to announce any casualties.