Delhi Building Collapse Live News: Police book owner, 5 dead; rescue operation underway

At least five people have died after the building collapse at Satya Niketan in southwest Delhi, with four of the 10 patients brought to the AIIMS JPN Apex Trauma Centre being declared dead on arrival and another critically injured patient later succumbing to injuries.

According to an AIIMS notice issued on Sunday, 10 patients were received at the trauma centre following the collapse. Of these, four were brought dead, while one patient who was in critical condition later died.

Three patients have been admitted and are undergoing treatment, the hospital said. One of the injured patients underwent surgery for a limb injury, while another sustained minor injuries and was discharged after a period of observation.

The AIIMS notice was issued by Dr Rima Dada, PIC, Media Cell, AIIMS, New Delhi, on September 6.

Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Sunday expressed grief over the building collapse at Satya Niketan in Delhi and offered his condolences to the families who lost their loved ones.

In a post on X, Dhankhar also prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured in the incident.

CPI general secretary D Raja on Sunday criticised the government over the building collapse at Delhi’s Satya Niketan, alleging that government negligence, incompetence and corruption were putting people’s lives at risk.

In a post on X, Raja expressed solidarity with those killed, injured or trapped under the debris and said AISF activists were assisting with relief and rescue operations at the site.

Raja also pointed to recent incidents in Delhi, including the Saket building collapse and Malviya Nagar fire, and questioned why lessons had not been learnt and accountability had not been fixed.

He said Delhi University students were particularly vulnerable because of inadequate hostel facilities and their dependence on expensive and unsafe PG accommodations. Raja demanded substantial compensation for victims and their families, a time-bound safety audit of PGs, hostels and student accommodations, and action against those responsible.

He also called for adequate hostels in every DU college, affordable student housing and stricter enforcement of building safety norms.

Residents of Delhi’s Satya Niketan alleged that repair and construction work was underway in the basement of the five-storey building that collapsed on Sunday, even as the area was dealing with severe waterlogging following two days of incessant rain.

Locals claimed water had accumulated in the basement and labourers were working there when the building collapsed. They also alleged unchecked construction, poor maintenance and a lack of regular inspections by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). The allegations could not be independently verified immediately.

According to residents, Satya Niketan has a large number of PG accommodations housing students from outside Delhi who come to study at Delhi University’s South Campus. They alleged that many buildings have been converted into PGs, with owners living elsewhere and paying little attention to their maintenance.

Locals also pointed to the area’s longstanding drainage and waterlogging problems, saying its sloping terrain often leaves water stagnant for extended periods. One resident claimed that an MCD office is located next to the collapsed building, while another building that was being constructed as a girls’ PG reportedly collapsed around two years ago and has remained unrepaired.

Police said the collapsed structure was around 50 years old. Residents said it had a basement and five upper floors, with students staying on multiple floors, a mess on the ground floor and construction work underway in the basement.

Rescue operations began after a PCR call was received at 1.34 pm at the South Campus police station. Delhi Police, NDRF, Delhi Fire Service and DDMA teams, along with fire tenders and CATS ambulances, reached the spot and began searching for those trapped. The exact number of people trapped was not immediately known, though locals estimated it could be around 30-40.

According to police on Sunday night, three people had died, while nine had been rescued, including five who were in critical condition. Delhi has been witnessing incessant rain since Friday, with waterlogging reported across several parts of the city.

- With PTI Inputs

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday expressed deep concern over the building collapse at Satya Niketan in Delhi and said he had spoken to the Delhi Chief Minister, Delhi Police Commissioner and NDRF Director General to assess the situation.

Shah said the local administration and NDRF were carrying out intensive rescue operations in coordination at the site. He added that the injured were being provided all necessary medical assistance and prayed for their speedy recovery.

Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu and Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar reached the site of the building collapse at Satya Niketan to take stock of the ongoing rescue and relief operations. Rescue teams have been working at the site to search for people feared trapped under the debris.

Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar expressed concern over the building collapse at Delhi’s Satya Niketan, saying the incident was deeply distressing and that several students were feared trapped under the debris. In a post on X, Kumar said NSUI activists were involved in relief and rescue efforts at the site.

Kanhaiya posted a video of him visiting the site after the accident. He also prayed for the safety of everyone affected by the incident.

BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj on Sunday expressed grief over the building collapse in Delhi’s Satya Niketan area and conveyed her condolences to the families affected by the incident.

In a post on X, Swaraj said relief and rescue operations were underway at the site, with teams from the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), NDRF, Delhi Fire Services, Delhi Police, MCD, CATS and Civil Defence working together to reach those trapped under the debris and rescue them safely.

She also prayed for the safety of everyone affected by the incident.

AAP leader Sanjay Singh called the Satya Niketan building collapse tragic and urged the Centre and Delhi government to work together to rescue those trapped.

Calling the building collapse near Satya Niketan “extremely tragic and distressing”, Singh said many people were trapped in the debris and urged the Centre and Delhi government to work together to save them.

Singh also prayed for the safety of those injured and affected in the incident as rescue operations continued at the site.

(Express Photos by Abhinav Saha)

Delhi Traffic Police said traffic movement around the Satya Niketan, Moti Bagh area may be regulated or diverted to facilitate rescue and emergency operations, urging commuters to avoid the affected area.

Commuters have been advised to follow traffic police instructions, avoid the affected area if possible, keep roads clear for ambulances and fire tenders, and avoid stopping or parking near the incident site.

BJP MP from New Delhi Bansuri Swaraj reached the site of the building collapse at Satya Niketan, as rescue operations continued.

Calling the Satya Niketan building collapse “extremely heartbreaking and alarming”, AAP leader Atishi said several people, including students, were feared trapped under the debris and urged the administration to carry out rescue operations swiftly.

Atishi also called for a high-level investigation into the incident and strict action against those responsible for alleged negligence, saying such tragedies must be prevented in the future.

A TVK functionary and history-sheeter, identified as Kannan, was hacked to death in Chennai’s Besant Nagar, with police arresting five people. The killing triggered Opposition attacks on the state’s law and order, with Udhayanidhi Stalin calling TVK a “dumping ground where criminals seek refuge”.

Police said Kannan was chased and attacked with machetes on Saturday night, with preliminary investigation pointing to previous enmity as the likely motive. CCTV footage of the attack has surfaced. The murder came a day before Chief Minister and TVK founder C Joseph Vijay is scheduled to respond to Opposition criticism of law and order in the Assembly.

- With PTI Inputs