At least six people have died and ten others injured in a tragic building collapse near Saket Metro Station when a four-storey commercial building came tumbling down in the crowded Saidulajab area of South Delhi on Saturday evening. A huge emergency response followed, as rescue workers searched through the debris in search of any survivors who had been trapped under the rubble.
A multi-agency rescue effort by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Delhi Fire Services, Delhi Police, Delhi Disaster Management Authority, Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Civil Defence and the ambulance teams was launched. Heavy equipment, hydraulic cutters, victim-location cameras, and sniffer dogs were all used to accelerate the search and get as many chances as possible to locate survivors.
Officials say the Delhi Fire Services received an emergency call informing about the collapse at around 7.44 PM. A dramatic video of the building collapsing, blasting a huge cloud of dust into the air and causing panic among residents and the public, was spread around online.
The building was situated in a very busy part of town where students lived, coaching institutes and small restaurants were found. Word quickly got out, and students and neighbors gathered near the area in a panic, anxiously searching for friends and family who were thought to be inside.
All the injured victims were rushed to AIIMS Trauma Centre for treatment. The investigation to determine the cause of the collapse has begun and rescue efforts are underway as officials work out whether further people may be entombed under the wreckage.