A five-storey building collapsed near Saket Metro station in South Delhi on Saturday evening, triggering a large-scale rescue operation and raising concerns that several people may still be trapped under the rubble.
The incident occurred in the Saeedulajab area at around 7:44 pm, close to the busy metro corridor. The structure, which was reportedly partly under construction, came crashing down suddenly, leaving behind a massive mound of debris.
At least nine people have been rescued so far, while emergency teams continue intensive search operations through the night.
RESCUE OPERATIONS IN FULL SWING
As soon as the collapse was reported, multiple emergency teams rushed to the site. The Delhi Fire Service led the initial response and later scaled up operations after the magnitude of the collapse became clear.
Additional manpower, senior officers, and specialised rescue equipment were deployed, including water tenders and light vehicles to assist in clearing debris.
By evening, the entire structure was confirmed to have collapsed, prompting reinforcement from multiple agencies.
5–6 PEOPLE STILL FEARED TRAPPED
Civil Defence officials at the site said that several people were still believed to be trapped beneath the rubble.
Deputy Chief Warden (Headquarters) of Civil Defence Dharamvir Sejwal said, “All of my seniors are here. Five to six people are still trapped. Rescue work is underway.”
He also indicated possible lapses linked to the building, noting that the structure was located in a commercial area and suggesting irregularities may have played a role.
“This is a commercial area. A mistake has been made,” he said.
MULTI-AGENCY COORDINATION ON GROUND
A coordinated emergency response has been activated involving:
- National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)
- Delhi Fire Service
- Delhi Police
- Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA)
- Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD)
- Civil Defence teams
- CATS ambulance services
Floodlights, cutting equipment, and heavy rescue tools have been deployed as teams carefully remove debris layer by layer in search of survivors.
CHIEF MINISTER MONITORS SITUATION
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta expressed concern over the incident and confirmed that all relevant agencies had been mobilised.
“Deeply concerned by the building collapse incident near Saket Metro Station,” she said in a post on X.
She added that rescue teams were working “on a war footing” and that every effort was being made to save those trapped.
“The safety and well-being of every citizen remain our highest priority,” she said.
RESCUE EFFORTS CONTINUE INTO NIGHT
By around 8:30 pm, additional fire service personnel were rushed in as operations intensified. Emergency lighting was installed as rescuers continued working under floodlights.
At least nine of the rescued victims were pulled out earlier in the operation, though their condition has not been confirmed.
BUILDING REPORTEDLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Preliminary reports suggest the building was partially under construction at the time of the collapse. However, authorities have not yet confirmed whether structural faults, construction activity, or other factors caused the incident.
The total number of occupants inside at the time remains unclear.
RACE AGAINST TIME
As night fell, the rescue operation turned into a race against time, with fears growing that more victims could still be trapped under tonnes of concrete and debris.
Officials have not yet commented on the cause of the collapse. A detailed investigation is expected once rescue operations conclude.
Further updates are awaited as search efforts continue.
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