A four-storey building collapsed in South Delhi’s Saidulajab area near Saket metro station on Saturday evening, leading to three fatalities and several persons injured. Multiple emergency agencies launched an extensive rescue operation which continued through the night.

The structure, which lodged a student mess and a paying guest (PG) accommodation, came crashing down at 7:44 pm on Western Marg, a bustling locality in the national capital known for its concentration of coaching centres, student hostels and mess facilities. 

At present, authorities fear that additional victims could still be trapped beneath the rubble, and rescue teams are persevering in search efforts well into Sunday. 

Senior police officials confirm death toll

Senior police officials said that three people have died in the incident and their deaths were confirmed at the AIIMS trauma centre. Meanwhile, two critically injured persons have been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and three others are being treated in hospital wards. 

Another three victims were discharged after receiving medical care, officials added. 

Earlier, the Delhi Fire Services (DFS) personnel said that nine people had been rescued from the rubble by 3:45 am on Sunday. One of the rescued persons, identified as Ravi, was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital. 

These teams conducting rescue operations

Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Delhi Fire Services (DFS), Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Civil Defence and the CATS Ambulance Service are engaged in rescue efforts. 

According to officials, seven people were rescued by the emergency teams, while two others were pulled out by locals before professional rescuers reached the spot. Heavy machinery and specialised equipment have been deployed to clear the debris and locate any remaining survivors. 

Anxiety grips residents, students

The student community residing in the area has been shock-stricken after the incident, Scores of anxious students congregated near the narrow lane leading to the accident site, seeking information about missing friends believed to have visited the mess around the time of the incident. 

Delhi Chief Minister (CM) Rekha Gupta took cognisance of the incident, saying that the government is closely monitoring developments and has mobilised all available resources to support rescue efforts.

She assured that agencies are working on a war footing to save the ones trapped beneath the debris and provide immediate assistance to the affected families.