3-Storey Commercial Building Reduced to Rubble; 9 Rescued as Search Operation Continues
New Delhi: Many people, including medical students, are feared trapped after a three-storey commercial building collapsed near Saket metro station in south Delhi on Saturday evening. The entire structure turned into a huge pile of rubble with twisted metal, broken pillars, and concrete slabs scattered throughout the area.
Police said nine people have been rescued so far, and a major multi-agency operation is ongoing to search for those feared to be trapped under the rubble, officials said.
Eyewitnesses said that cries for help could be heard from under the rubble. “All we could hear were screams coming from under the rubble. There was a huge dust cloud. When it settled, we realized that part of the adjacent building was also affected,” said one of the local residents.
The building, which housed a bus institute, cafes and offices and where construction work was ongoing on the third floor, collapsed at around 7.45pm on Western Marg in Saidulajab area near Saket metro station.
According to Delhi Fire Services (DFS), three people were rescued by local and PCR personnel before firefighters arrived, while others were pulled out by DFS personnel with the help of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).
Fire officials said the ground-plus three-story building collapsed completely, toppling over onto an adjacent makeshift tin shack where students were eating dinner.
Balwant Yadav, father of an injured student, said his 25-year-old daughter Neelam was in the canteen adjacent to the building when the structure collapsed. Neelam had recently returned from abroad after completing her MBBS and was preparing for her postgraduate entrance exam at Arise Medical Academy in Saket.
Balwant said, “There were around 30-35 students in the canteen at the time of the incident. Most of them were students preparing for various medical entrance exams at the institute. My daughter had a fracture in her leg and is currently receiving treatment.” he said.
Neighborhood residents said that the building was visited by many students and office workers.
Although authorities have not yet confirmed how many people were injured or feared trapped, locals claimed that 100 to 150 people could be trapped under the rubble.
“Around 100 to 150 people may have been trapped under the collapsed building. Many cafes, coaching centers and corporate offices were operating in the building.
“The building was relatively new and was probably built four or five years ago,” said Ravindra Singh, a local resident.
Dharamveer Singh, an official from the district magistrate’s office, who was at the site, said rescue personnel were still working to reach those trapped underground.
“It is believed that 6-7 people are still trapped under the collapsed building. Their faces can be seen from outside and NDRF personnel are working to rescue them.
“The exact number of deaths, if any, can only be confirmed after all trapped persons have been evacuated and transported to hospital,” he said.
Chaar Gaon Committee chairman Ravinder Singh said many of those feared to be stuck could be students.
He said aspiring doctors came here for coaching and other courses and some of them might have been among those trapped in the collapsed building.
According to DFS officials, three fire trucks and one emergency response vehicle were dispatched in the first place. When the extent of the collapse became clear, fire crews and a lighting vehicle were dispatched to the scene.
Fire brigades, NDRF personnel, police teams and residents are jointly carrying out rescue efforts.
Heavy machinery, including JCB excavators, was pressed into service to carefully remove the debris. Rescue teams use hydraulic cutters and jacks to cut through steel beams and concrete slabs, while specialized equipment such as victim location cameras, earth auger drilling machines and trained search dogs are on site to search for survivors.
Images from the area show worried relatives, residents and students gathering around the rubble as rescue teams work under floodlights.
Many rushed between hospitals, including AIIMS, to get information about their loved ones. Many said they could not immediately determine whether their relatives in the building had been rescued or were still trapped.
Police officials said their immediate focus remains on rescuing those trapped under the rubble.
They also said that after the investigation, the ownership of the building, whether necessary permits were obtained for construction activities and whether any defects contributed to the collapse will be examined.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Anant Mittal said that around 7.35 pm, police personnel received information about the collapse of a large building and the PCR call was received three minutes after the incident. Maximum personnel of Mehrauli police station were immediately rushed to the spot.
“It was found that an old building had collapsed and the debris had fallen on the adjacent hut-like structure. We were informed that the building was being used as a canteen for medical students and some people might be trapped.
“Around nine people have been evacuated so far. Their injuries are being identified. A green corridor has been created to facilitate the movement of multiple ambulances. Rescue operations are being jointly carried out by NDRF, DDMA, fire brigade and Delhi Police,” the official said. he said.
