Five-Storey Building Collapses in Delhi’s Satya Niketan; 3 Dead, Several Feared Trapped

India: A five-storey building housing a boys’ paying guest (PG) accommodation, known as ‘Hostel Daze’, collapsed in Delhi’s Satya Niketan area (South-West district) on Sunday afternoon, killing at least three people and critically injuring five others. Several more people, mostly students, were feared trapped under the debris.

The incident occurred around 1:30–1:34 pm near Delhi University’s South Campus, close to Nanakpura Gurdwara. The building, estimated to be 40–50 years old, had a basement and five upper floors. Repair or construction work was underway in the basement when the structure suddenly came down. Locals reported feeling a tremor “like an earthquake” moments before the collapse.

Police received a PCR call at South Campus police station at approximately 1:34 pm. The Delhi Fire Service was alerted around the same time and rushed eight fire tenders to the site. Multi-agency rescue operations involving the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Delhi Police, Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), CATS ambulances and Civil Defence were launched immediately. An adjacent building was vacated as a precautionary measure.

Several people were pulled out alive and shifted to hospitals, including AIIMS Trauma Centre. Some of those still trapped under the rubble were reportedly making phone calls seeking help. Oxygen cylinders were brought to the site to assist potential survivors.

The building typically housed students from nearby Delhi University colleges. Being a Sunday with rain, many residents were indoors at the time of the collapse.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the incident as “distressing.” In a post on X, he said: “The collapse of a building at Satya Niketan, Delhi is distressing. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. Praying for the speedy recovery of the injured. Authorities are working at the site and assisting those affected in the mishap.”

Delhi Police have registered an FIR against the building’s owner, Anand Bansal, a resident of Gurugram.

Search and rescue efforts continued through the evening.