At least three people have died after a five-storey building collapsed in south-west New Delhi, while dozens remain feared trapped beneath the rubble.
The structure, used as accommodation for male students in the Satya Niketan area near Delhi University’s South Campus, came down at about 1.30pm on Sunday.
Police said nine people had been pulled from the debris, including one who was pronounced dead at hospital and two others who later died during treatment. Five people were in a critical condition.
Fire officer Abhilash Malik said between 30 and 40 people could still be trapped. Local estimates put the number as high as 50, although Delhi Police said the exact number of people inside the building remained unknown.
BJP lawmaker Anil Sharma said rescuers had been receiving phone calls from people beneath the wreckage and remained in contact with some of those trapped.
Police, firefighters, India’s National Disaster Response Force and other emergency teams were searching through the debris, while earthmovers cleared sections of the site to allow rescuers to reach deeper into the building.
The building had a basement and five floors above ground and was being used as paying guest accommodation. Repair work was reportedly under way in the basement when it collapsed.
Officials said the structure was nearly 50 years old. Delhi had experienced several days of rain, and local residents claimed water had collected in the basement, although the cause of the collapse had not been established.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta visited the scene and said teams from the disaster management authority, National Disaster Response Force, Delhi Fire Service, police, municipal authorities, ambulance services and civil defence were working together.
The adjoining building was evacuated as a precaution, while an inquiry committee was set up to investigate the collapse and determine whether action should be taken against those responsible.
