At least five people have lost their lives and several others have sustained injuries following the collapse of a multi-storey building housing college students in the Indian capital of New Delhi, local authorities reported.
The structure, located in the Satya Niketan area of Southwest Delhi—a densely populated neighborhood known for paying guest (PG) student accommodations near Delhi University's South Campus—collapsed around midday. The incident prompted an immediate, large-scale emergency response, with Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta stating on the X platform that teams from multiple agencies were conducting rescue operations on a "war footing."
Emergency responders managed to pull 11 people from the debris and transport them to nearby medical facilities. Four of the victims were pronounced dead upon arrival at the Trauma Centre of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). A fifth individual, who was admitted in critical condition, later succumbed to their injuries. Hospital officials reported that three patients remain hospitalized for treatment, one has undergone surgery on a limb, and another was discharged after being treated for minor injuries.
According to the Delhi Police, the collapsed building was between 40 and 50 years old, consisting of a basement and five upper floors. Investigators confirmed that repair work was actively taking place in the basement at the exact time of the collapse. Authorities are now in the process of registering a First Information Report (FIR) against Anand Bansal, who operated the student accommodation facility under the name "Hostel Daze."
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences regarding the tragedy, describing the collapse as "distressing." In a statement shared on X, the Prime Minister's office said, "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." Search-and-rescue operations remain ongoing at the scene as emergency workers search for any additional survivors trapped under the rubble.
