New Delhi, 31 May (H.S.): A four-story commercial building suddenly came crashing down on Saturday evening in the Saiduljajab area near Saket Metro Station in South Delhi. The collapse triggered panic across the neighborhood, shrouding the surroundings in a thick cloud of dust. Debris from the building fell onto an adjacent canteen operating under a tin shed and damaged nearby structures. At the time of the incident, several students were eating inside the canteen, raising fears that they might be trapped under the rubble.

As soon as the news of the incident reached authorities, teams from Delhi Police, Delhi Fire Service, NDRF, and other relief agencies rushed to the scene. In the relief and rescue operation underway as this report was being written, 11 people had been safely pulled out. However, apprehensions remained that others were still trapped under the debris, and the search operation continued.

Construction Underway on Fourth Floor

According to fire officials, the collapse was reported at 7:44 p.m. Immediately, seven fire tenders were dispatched to the site. Preliminary investigations revealed that construction work was in progress on the fourth floor of the building located in Lane No. 5, Saiduljajab. By the time relief teams arrived, the entire structure had been reduced to a massive pile of concrete rubble, twisted steel rods, and broken columns. Eyewitnesses said the collapse happened so suddenly that people had no time to react.

Devastation Falls on Students Eating at Canteen

At the time of the disaster, students were having meals in a canteen adjacent to the building. As the structure collapsed, heavy debris crashed down onto the canteen. Local residents and rescue workers immediately began relief efforts, pulling out several students from the rubble. The injured were given first aid and then transported to AIIMS Trauma Center. Until late night, families gathered at the hospital. Many families wandered between the hospital and the incident site seeking information about their children. Meanwhile, to ensure the injured reached the hospital without delay, police established a green corridor.

Coaching Institute Operated on Ground Floor

According to police officials, a coaching institute was operating in part of the building's ground floor. There are fears that students from the coaching center may also be trapped under the debris. However, as of late night, there was no clear information on how many people were inside the building at the time of the collapse. Local residents said that since it was Saturday, fewer people were present in the building compared to normal days; otherwise, the toll could have been far higher. The building also housed several private offices.

Shortly after the incident, locals arrived at the scene with mobile phones and torches. Several people began rescue efforts even before fire and police teams reached the site. Local residents cleared rubble and rescued three people, transporting them to the hospital with PCR assistance. Later, joint operations by police, fire, and NDRF teams rescued several more injured persons from the debris. People at the scene continued assisting the rescue teams throughout.

Eyewitnesses said that as soon as the building collapsed, the entire area was engulfed in a dust cloud. For several minutes, nothing could be seen clearly. People reported hearing only screams coming from beneath the rubble. Once the dust settled, it became clear that apart from the main building, parts of an adjacent structure were also damaged. Local residents then informed the police and began relief efforts at their own level.

During the rescue operation, debris was carefully removed using JCB machines. Hydraulic jacks and special cutters were used to cut through heavy concrete slabs and steel girders. In addition, modern equipment such as victim-location cameras and earth-auger drilling machines were employed to safely reach any potential survivors. Until late night, rescue teams, with assistance from local residents, continued clearing debris and searching for people who might be trapped.

Local resident Kedar Yadav said his daughter, Sheetal Yadav, was preparing for a medical entrance examination and was in the area at the time of the incident. Upon hearing the news, he immediately reached the site and later went to AIIMS Trauma Center, where injured students were being identified. He said dozens of families appeared distressed at the hospital, seeking information about their children. Many parents did not even know whether their child was injured or safe.

After the incident, police began investigating the building's ownership and construction-related documents. Officials said the immediate priority is to safely extract people trapped under the debris. Police will also investigate whether necessary permissions were obtained from relevant departments for the construction. After preliminary investigations are completed, legal action will be taken against the building owner and contractors involved in the construction work.

Local residents said that if the collapse had occurred during office hours between Monday and Friday, the situation could have been far more catastrophic. Hundreds of people normally enter and exit this commercial building daily. According to one resident, on normal days approximately 300–400 people visited the building. Since it was Saturday evening, the number of people inside was comparatively lower, which helped avert a larger loss of life.

Similar Incidents Have Occurred Earlier in Delhi

- April 19, 2025: Multistory building collapsed in Shakti Vihar, Dayalpur.

- July 11, 2025: Building collapse in Azadpur Mandi area killed one person.

- July 12, 2025: Four-story building collapsed in the Welcome area.

- August 20, 2025: Building collapse near Sadbhavna Park, Dariyaganj, killed three people.

- September 13, 2021: Three-story building collapsed in Malkanganj area.

As this report was being written, NDRF, the Fire Department, Delhi Police, and other agency teams were jointly engaged in relief and rescue operations. The administration stated that every possible effort is being made to reach every person trapped under the debris. As of late night, there was no official confirmation regarding the exact number of casualties in the incident.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar