New Delhi
oi-Ashish Rana
A five-storey building in south Delhi’s Saidullajab area, close to Saket Metro station, collapsed on Saturday evening, triggering a large-scale rescue operation and raising fears that several people may have been trapped beneath the debris. Emergency teams, including personnel from the Delhi Fire Services (DFS), police, and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), rushed to the spot as anxious residents and students gathered nearby.
A five-storey building collapsed in Saidullajab, South Delhi, near Saket Metro station on Saturday evening. Emergency teams including DFS and NDRF rescued at least nine people from the debris, with search operations continuing late into the night and no casualties reported so far.
Authorities said multiple people were rescued from the rubble, while search operations continued late into the night to ensure no one remained trapped.
Rescue Teams Race Against Time
According to officials, at least nine people were pulled out after rescue teams reached the site. NDRF Commandant Sunil Kumar Singh said that some occupants had already been rescued before specialised teams arrived.
“When the NDRF reached here, we were told that 4 people have already been rescued. After that, we have rescued 4 conscious people and 1 unconscious. We did a canine search as well, and have now started removing the debris using JCBs. However, no casualty has been reported so far,” he said around 12.30 am.
Rescuers deployed sniffer dogs to scan the debris and later began clearing the wreckage with heavy machinery to search for any remaining survivors. Officials said no deaths had been reported till late night.
Emergency Response Launched After Distress Call
The Delhi Fire Services said its control room received information about the collapse at approximately 7.45 pm.
A DFS official stated that the caller had alerted authorities that people were believed to be trapped under the fallen structure.
“The caller informed that some people were trapped under the debris. We have sent four fire tenders and are waiting for updates from the fire officials carrying out the search and rescue operation,” the official said.
Several fire tenders, ambulances and rescue vehicles were dispatched to the location. The narrow lanes surrounding the site witnessed heavy activity as rescue workers and local residents joined efforts to remove debris.
Students Gripped by Anxiety as Friends Remain Unreachable
The incident sparked concern among hundreds of students living in the neighbourhood, which is known for its concentration of coaching institutes, paying guest accommodations and low-cost eateries catering to young migrants.
As rescue operations continued, groups of students stood outside the cordoned-off area, repeatedly calling friends and acquaintances who were believed to have visited the building.
Officials have not yet determined how many people were present inside the building at the time of the collapse. Rescue and debris-clearing operations continued through the night as authorities worked to account for anyone who may still be missing.
