A four-storey residential building collapsed in Delhi’s Seemapuri area on Wednesday afternoon, leaving several people feared trapped and prompting an urgent rescue operation.
The Delhi Fire Service received information about the incident at around 3:30 pm and rushed four fire tenders to the spot. Police personnel, civic officials and local residents also joined the rescue effort as teams began searching through the debris.
A local resident, Salim, said the collapsed structure was his house. His daughter and son-in-law were initially trapped but were later rescued. He claimed that more people could still be underneath the rubble, although authorities had not immediately confirmed the exact number.
Residents said a shop was located on the ground floor while families lived on the upper floors. Some people were reportedly pulled out by locals and police before specialised rescue teams arrived.
Seemapuri building rescue operation continues
Municipal councillor Pankaj Luthra, who visited the site, said the building was believed to be around 40 to 50 years old. He added that several people had already been rescued and that police, MCD officials and other agencies were working together.
Rescue teams were carefully removing debris while checking for signs of survivors. Authorities were also taking precautions to prevent further collapse or injury during the operation.
The exact cause of the incident has not yet been established. Officials are expected to examine the building’s condition and determine whether age, structural weakness or other factors contributed to the collapse.
MCD building safety action under fresh focus
The incident has once again raised concerns over the safety of ageing and potentially unsafe buildings in Delhi.
It comes about a month after a boys’ paying guest accommodation collapsed in Satya Niketan during repair work, killing seven people and injuring several others.
Following that tragedy, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi stepped up inspections and enforcement against dangerous buildings, unauthorised construction and violations of building regulations. Demolition drives were also carried out in several areas, including Old Seemapuri.
The latest collapse is likely to increase pressure on civic authorities to identify vulnerable structures before they become dangerous. For now, the immediate priority remains rescuing anyone still trapped and ensuring that all residents of the collapsed building are accounted for.
