Delhi building collapse: ‘Breathed through gaps in the rubble, screamed for help’

Policemen struggled to contain the crowd at Acharya Bhikshu Hospital which comprised family members of the dead.

a man who lost his son waits outside DDU Hospital

Thirteen-year-old Soni finished her English tuition class and raced home, hoping to find her parents and brother. Instead, the house was empty. She waited for over an hour for her family to return from the ceiling fan manufacturing unit where they worked. They never did.

Soni’s father Rajesh and brother Anshu (6) died in the blast, while mother Manju sustained injuries to the spine. “Someone came running from the streets and told me what had happened,” Soni said.

The girl was ushered to Acharya Bhikshu Hospital, where a crowd had gathered. Policemen struggled to contain the crowd, which comprised family members of the dead. The girl was taken by a policeman to identify the bodies of her father and brother. Waiting at the hospital till early in the morning, she said: “Mujhe darr lag raha hai.”

Ajay had joined the factory on January 1, after quitting work in Bawana. “He wanted to spend more time with family so he changed jobs,” said his mother Kamlesh. He was supposed to go to Vaishno Devi with friends and catch the 5 am train on Friday.

Explained

Task cut out for civic bodies

There are over 50,000 factories running from residential areas in Delhi, according to data given by DSIIDC to the three corporations in August 2018. The corporations have sealed around 1,200 such units, with North taking the lead with 900. In 1996, DSIIDC had allotted plots outside residential areas to many factory owners, but they did not shift elsewhere. The Delhi Master Plan 2021 only allows small-scale industries, like those making incense sticks or garlands, to be operated from residential areas.

Also at the hospital was 27-year-old Rohit, whose brother, also named Ajay, was among the dead. “He got engaged on December 18, this wasn’t supposed to happen,” Rohit said.

Among those who survived was Ashok (34). “I was able to breathe through cracks in the rubble,” Ashok, who has worked in the industry for 12 years and got Rs 10,000 per month, said.

“As people looked for survivors, I screamed with all my energy. When they pulled me out, I lost consciousness,” he said. “I can barely walk now. Lekin jaan hai toh jahaan hai.”

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Surendra (40), who had gone to pick up keys from his wife, who works at the unit, fractured his right leg and received head injuries. His wife also made it out alive.

Anand Mohan J

Anand Mohan J is an award-winning Senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently leading the bureau’s coverage of Madhya Pradesh. With a career spanning over eight years, he has established himself as a trusted voice at the intersection of law, internal security, and public policy. Based in Bhopal, Anand is widely recognized for his authoritative reporting on Maoist insurgency in Central India. In late 2025, he provided exclusive, ground-level coverage of the historic surrender of the final Maoist cadres in Madhya Pradesh, detailing the backchannel negotiations and the "vacuum of command" that led to the state being declared Maoist-free. Expertise and Reporting Beats Anand’s investigative work is characterized by a "Journalism of Courage" approach, holding institutions accountable through deep-dive analysis of several key sectors: National Security & Counter-Insurgency: He is a primary chronicler of the decline of Naxalism in the Central Indian corridor, documenting the tactical shifts of security forces and the rehabilitation of surrendered cadres. Judiciary & Legal Accountability: Drawing on over four years of experience covering Delhi’s trial courts and the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Anand deconstructs complex legal rulings. He has exposed critical institutional lapses, including custodial safety violations and the misuse of the National Security Act (NSA). Wildlife Conservation (Project Cheetah): Anand is a leading reporter on Project Cheetah at Kuno National Park. He has provided extensive coverage of the biological and administrative hurdles of rewilding Namibian and South African cheetahs, as well as high-profile cases of wildlife trafficking. Public Health & Social Safety: His recent investigative work has uncovered systemic negligence in public services, such as contaminated blood transfusions causing HIV infections in thalassemia patients and the human cost of the fertilizer crisis affecting rural farmers. Professional Background Tenure: Joined The Indian Express in 2017. Locations: Transitioned from the high-pressure Delhi City beat (covering courts, police, and labor issues) to his current role as a regional lead in Madhya Pradesh. Notable Investigations: * Exposed the "digital arrest" scams targeting entrepreneurs. Investigated the Bandhavgarh elephant deaths and the impact of kodo millet fungus on local wildlife. Documented the transition of power and welfare schemes (like Ladli Behna) in Madhya Pradesh governance. Digital & Professional Presence Author Profile: Anand Mohan J at Indian Express Twitter handle: @mohanreports ... Read More

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