One dead and eight rescued after five-storey building collapses in Delhi

A five-storey residential building collapsed in Delhi's New Seemapuri area on Wednesday afternoon, leaving one person dead and several trapped under the debris. ## Rescue Work The incident took place at around 3:30 pm in E-Block, Shahdara district, on a plot measuring about 25 square yards. The collapse also partially damaged two adjoining buildings. Delhi Fire Services, the National Disaster Response Force, police, and civic officials rushed to the site to carry out rescue operations from the Eidgah premises due to cramped lanes.

Victims and Injured

Eight injured people, including a three-year-old child and several men and women, were pulled out and taken to the GTB Hospital emergency department. Among the injured are building owner Anwar, his wife Salma, their son Abdur Rehman, the child Abdan, and a tenant named Sakina. Resident Sameena stated that her 21-year-old pregnant sister Gulfisha called from beneath the rubble to say she was trapped with her four-year-old daughter and another child. Resident Haseena reported that her mother was buried after the structure fell while crossing the street.

Cause and Background

Mohammed Akbar, a relative of the owner, stated that the property belonged to Mohammed Anwar and housed the family across four floors. Ameena, the owner's daughter, claimed that an adjoining house had been undergoing demolition work using a machine for the past five to six days, which impacted their building. The family had constructed and moved into the property only four months prior.

Context

Urban residential building collapses in densely populated areas often highlight concerns regarding structural stability, narrow lanes that hinder emergency vehicle access, and the impact of nearby construction work. Rescue teams frequently face major hurdles reaching disaster sites quickly when lanes are too narrow for heavy equipment.