At least three people died and dozens are feared trapped after a building housing mostly students collapsed in New Delhi, India. The structure in the Satya Niketan area came down shortly after midday on Sunday, with approximately 50 people believed to have been inside at the time.
Emergency services were on the scene, with rescuers seen trawling through piles of bricks and slabs in search of survivors. Indian media showed one young man being pulled from the debris, while another was seen trapped beneath a fallen metal slab. Local newspaper The Hindu reported three fatalities and nine people rescued, five of whom were taken to the hospital in critical condition.
Construction work had been ongoing in the basement of the building, known as Hostel Daze, which is located near the Delhi University campus. Eyewitnesses reported that another nearby building also collapsed on Sunday, though this has not been officially confirmed. As a precautionary measure, a building adjacent to the collapse site was evacuated, according to Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the incident 'distressing' and offered condolences to the families of the deceased. The Satya Niketan area is known for its densely populated, privately-owned accommodations where many university students reside.
Building collapses are a recurring issue in India, particularly in large cities where illegal structures accommodating migrant workers and students are common. Last year, a residential building collapse in the capital's northeastern district resulted in at least 11 fatalities. Delhi Police stated that the 40 to 50-year-old building that collapsed on Sunday was reportedly on a 100-year lease, and the leaseholder had undertaken excavation work in the basement to increase rental income, potentially weakening the structure's foundational pillars.
The National Students' Union of India condemned the incident, stating that negligence regarding the safety of students and the public would not be tolerated.
