In brief
A serveral‑storey building in Satya Niketan, Delhi, collapsed on Sunday around 13:30 local time, trapping roughly 50 residents and killing at least three. Rescue crews have extracted eight people and are working to release more trapped students, many of whom were in rooms during an off‑day holiday. The collapse occurred amid basement construction for hostel expansion, raising questions about renovation oversight and building foundations. Delhi’s Chief Minister announced a search for the property owner and vowed to investigate the incident. The incident follows a spate of Delhi building collapses over the past three years that have claimed dozens of lives.
A five‑storey hostel in the Satya Niketan neighbourhood of southwest Delhi collapsed on Sunday afternoon, trapping about 50 residents inside the wreckage and killing at least three people, authorities reported.
Eyewitnesses said the building fell around 13:30 local time (08:00 GMT). Rescuers have already extricated eight survivors and continue to search for the rest, many of whom were asleep during an off‑day holiday. Three victims were confirmed dead and three others are in critical condition.
The collapse was linked to basement construction work carried out by the hostel’s operators. The building, located a stone’s throw from Delhi University, had been undergoing expansion when the collapse occurred. A legislative assembly member saw trapped students attempting to call for help from beneath the rubble.
Delhi’s Chief Minister, Rekha Gupta, announced that a neighbouring building had been evacuated as a precaution. She pledged that every effort would be made to safely rescue those trapped.
Police said the collapsed building was only 40–50 years old, but a nearby shop owner claimed that the property was under a 100‑year lease and had undergone excavation to expand the hostel, compromising the integrity of the foundations. Construction workers were reportedly buried beneath the rubble.
The National Students’ Union of India called on authorities to investigate the cause of the collapse and hold anyone found responsible accountable, vowing that negligence should not be tolerated. Police are currently searching for the building’s owner.
Building collapses remain an ongoing risk in Delhi. Fire department records show more than a thousand collapses in the past three years, with dozens killed. Poor foundations, sub‑standard materials and unqualified builders are cited as common causes. The recent incident underscores the urgent need for stricter enforcement of construction codes and regular structural inspections.
