A five-storey building collapsed in the Satya Niketan area of South Delhi on Sunday afternoon, trapping an estimated 30 to 50 students beneath the debris. Those trapped reportedly made phone calls from under the rubble, seeking assistance. Emergency rescue teams were dispatched to the site to conduct operations, with several individuals already having been rescued.

Local BJP MLA Anil Sharma visited the scene and mentioned that rescue efforts were ongoing. “We are even getting calls from those who are trapped inside. Teams are continuously in touch with those who are trapped inside; we pray to God that all people are safe,” he stated, highlighting the gravity of the situation.

Witnesses described a sudden tremor that prompted residents of nearby buildings to flee outdoors. They were met with the unsettling sight of a collapsed structure that once housed a busy accommodation for students.

Residents Join Rescue Efforts

Following the building’s collapse, local residents rushed to help clear the rubble using only their bare hands and any nearby tools available. The building, known as Hostel Daze, is located in a densely populated area that is home to numerous student hostels, eateries, and shops near Delhi University’s South Campus.

Rajen Chhetri, a local resident and member of the Delhi Police, spoke about the building previously accommodating approximately 15 rooms, shared by two to three students each. He noted that repair work was in progress in the basement at the time of the collapse, where water had begun to accumulate. Chhetri added that many of the students residing there hailed from Kerala, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh and primarily studied at nearby institutions.

Comments from another resident indicated a sense of fear and urgency, as several students on the upper floors were asleep during the incident. The resident mentioned, “Around 35 to 40 students were staying on the upper floors,” and that he had narrowly escaped the collapse just moments before it occurred.

Building Condition and Safety Concerns

Local residents expressed their concerns regarding the structural safety of buildings in the area, with some noting that the collapsed property was over 20 years old and had seen no significant maintenance during that time. Senior residents like Priyanka mentioned that many properties in Satya Niketan had been converted to student accommodation while their owners resided elsewhere.

Priyanka stated, “The whole of Satya Niketan is full of PGs, and hardly 30 per cent of the house owners actually live here.” She underscored that many buildings, including those converted into PGs, have deteriorated and called for urgent structural evaluations of such properties.

The dismantling of residential structures designed to accommodate multiple floors in this locality raises questions about the permits that allowed their construction. Concerns have been raised regarding the overall safety of other buildings that are similarly constructed, urging immediate action to prevent further incidents.

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