Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Sep 7: Six people were killed and several others injured after a nearly 50-year-old five-storey building housing a boys' paying guest (PG) accommodation collapsed at Satya Niketan near Delhi University's South Campus on Sunday afternoon.

One more body was recovered during late-night rescue operations, taking the death toll to six. Eleven people have so far been rescued from the debris, while rescue teams continued searching for those feared trapped inside the collapsed structure.

The building, reportedly known as 'Hostel Daze', comprised a basement and five upper floors and was being used as a PG accommodation for students. The structure collapsed at around 1.30 pm while repair work was reportedly being carried out in the basement.

Of those rescued, four were brought dead to hospital, while another person died during treatment. Three patients remained admitted and were undergoing treatment. One underwent limb surgery, while another was discharged after observation. A 19-year-old person was also brought to Safdarjung Hospital at around 3.05 pm with minor injuries and was admitted for observation.

The exact number of people who were inside the building when it collapsed remains unclear. Locals claimed that around 40 people could still be trapped beneath the debris of the structure, which comprised a basement and five upper floors.

Teams of the Delhi Police, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Delhi Fire Service and Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), along with fire tenders and CATS ambulances, rushed to the spot and launched rescue operations.

Around 200 emergency personnel were involved in the rescue and relief efforts. Fire and rescue teams worked through the heavy debris using equipment and manual efforts to locate people who may still have been trapped underneath.

The area has narrow and congested lanes lined with eateries, hostels and PG accommodations catering mainly to students. Locals said the congested lanes made it difficult for emergency vehicles to reach the site quickly.

Residents and eyewitnesses also joined the rescue efforts, using their bare hands and whatever tools were available to search for people buried underneath the rubble. Videos circulating on social media showed desperate attempts by locals to rescue those trapped beneath concrete slabs.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Lieutenant Governor Taranjeet Singh Sandhu, Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar and BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj reached the spot after the incident.

Gupta later ordered a magisterial inquiry into the collapse. The Delhi Chief Minister's Office said an FIR would also be registered against the building owner following an on-site review and preliminary assessment.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed grief over the deaths and said he had spoken to the chief minister, police commissioner and senior disaster management officials to assess the situation on the ground.

The Joint Commissioner of Police, New Delhi Range, DCP Southwest and Additional DCP supervised the rescue operation. Police said the building was known as 'Hostel Daze' and its owner was based in Gurugram.

Repair work was reportedly underway in the basement when the structure collapsed. Locals claimed that water had accumulated in the basement following several days of rain and alleged that this may have weakened the building's foundation. The exact cause of the collapse is yet to be established and will be examined as part of the inquiry.

The incident has raised serious questions over the safety of buildings being used as PG accommodations and the enforcement of construction and fire-safety norms in densely populated parts of the national capital.

South Delhi BJP MP Ramvir Singh Bidhuri said the government had constituted an inquiry committee to investigate the collapse and initiate strict action against those responsible.

BJP MLA Anil Sharma, who reached the spot, said people were still trapped inside the building.

"We are even getting calls from those who are trapped inside. Teams are continuously in touch with those who are trapped inside; we pray to God that all people are safe," he said.

An eyewitness said the tragedy could have been much worse had the incident occurred on a working day, as many students from nearby areas had returned home for the weekend.

The locality has a large student population, with many students reportedly coming from Keralam, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to study at colleges located around South Campus.

Congress leader and AICC Uttarakhand in-charge Kumari Selja questioned the safety of students living in such accommodations and sought accountability from the Delhi government.

"What is the BJP government doing? They have forgotten what happened at the coaching centre. A mafia is operating in Delhi. These children are sent away with so many hopes. They are the only support for their parents. Who is responsible for their safety?" Selja said.

Former Delhi Chief Secretary Omesh Saigal said the incident should not be viewed as an isolated case and raised concerns over unauthorised construction in parts of Delhi. He alleged that some buildings had unapproved blueprints, additional floors added later or substandard construction, and questioned whether authorities responsible for approving building plans had adequately checked their safety.

Saigal also called for restrictions on new construction in areas that are already overcrowded and over-built, saying authorities should examine the safety of existing structures.

NSUI president Vinod Jakhar described the situation as extremely grave and alleged that delays in the arrival of medical facilities, police and fire services may have affected the rescue effort. He demanded accountability and justice for those killed and injured in the incident.

Meanwhile, Delhi Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha president Rajat Choudhary said the situation remained serious and appealed for speedy rescue operations. He said ambulances and doctors were present in large numbers and urged the Delhi and Central governments to ensure that those trapped were rescued quickly.

Choudhary also appealed to political parties not to politicise the tragedy and instead extend support to the affected families and rescue personnel.

Residents also raised concerns over the condition and maintenance of other buildings in the area, where several houses have reportedly been converted into PGs.

Priyanka, who has lived in the area for more than two decades, said buildings were being constructed up to five or six floors and many houses had been converted into boys' PGs.

"Many houses have been converted into boys' PGs, with the owners shifting elsewhere. They simply name the properties as PGs, take the rent online and leave the area without even checking back," she said.

She also alleged that maintenance work was rarely carried out on such buildings. She said that because it was raining, most students were inside their rooms, while some had gone home as it was the weekend.

The collapse has renewed concerns over structural safety, unauthorised construction and the monitoring of residential buildings converted into student accommodations in densely populated areas of Delhi. The magisterial inquiry and police investigation are expected to establish the circumstances that led to the collapse and determine responsibility.