At least six people are dead and five are in critical condition after a student hostel collapsed in Delhi's Satya Niketan area, with at least 40 others feared trapped under the rubble. The Delhi Fire Service received the first information about the incident at 1:33 pm local time on Sunday, September 6, and deployed at least 12 fire crews to the scene.
Rescue Operations Underway in Satya Niketan
Pictures from the scene show a large crowd gathered near the debris as rescuers work to clear the collapsed structure and reach people believed to be trapped underneath. Anil Kumar Sharma, a BJP politician representing the RK Puram constituency, said some of the trapped children inside have been making phone calls. An eyewitness claimed at least 50 students may be trapped under the rubble, according to NDTV reports.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta expressed deep concern over the incident, stating that teams from DDMA, NDRF, Delhi Fire Services, Delhi Police, MCD, CATS, and Civil Defence are carrying out rescue operations on a war footing. She confirmed that an adjacent building has been evacuated as a precautionary measure.
Survivor Accounts and Building Condition
Nitin Jamwal, 19, a student who resided in the hostel until about a year ago, told Hindustan Times that the building was in poor condition. "Everything here was bad here. The walls were cracking. Basement used to fill with water. Food was bad. There were two rooms on each floor," he said. His friend Niteesh is feared trapped.
A video filmed by a man trapped under the rubble, as onlookers called for rescuers to help him, has circulated online. Additional footage showed residents attempting to rescue survivors before disaster response teams arrived. The exact number of people who were in the building at the time of the collapse is not yet known.
Official Response and Precautionary Measures
Chief Minister Gupta said, "Deeply concerned by the building collapse incident at Satya Niketan, RK Puram. Teams from DDMA, NDRF, Delhi Fire Services, Delhi Police, MCD, CATS and Civil Defence are carrying out rescue operations on a war footing. The adjacent building has been vacated as a precautionary measure. Every possible effort is being made to safely rescue those trapped and provide immediate assistance to the affected families."
She added that "the situation is being closely monitored and all concerned agencies are working in coordination. The safety and well-being of every citizen remain our highest priority." Satya Niketan is a popular area among college goers, with several paying guest accommodations, book shops, and budget cafes in the area. Rescue operations continue as authorities work to reach those trapped and provide assistance to affected families.
