The death toll in the residential building collapse in Delhi's Satya Niketan area rose to six on Sunday, as rescue teams continued to clear heavy debris and search for any remaining trapped persons. One more body was recovered during late-night operations, according to multiple officials.
Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Delhi Fire Service, Delhi Police and other agencies are working at the site, with eight fire tenders dispatched after the fire department was alerted around 1:30pm. Five injured persons have been rushed to AIIMS Trauma Centre, and one person was taken to Safdarjung Hospital, where two of those brought to AIIMS were declared brought dead.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, who visited the site to oversee the rescue operation, said on Sunday that 11 people had been rescued. "11 people have been rescued. I am going to the hospital. We need to understand the condition of all those who have been rescued," she told reporters. Gupta vowed strict action against those responsible, saying, "Whoever is responsible for this, whether it is the building owner or an official, will not be spared."
Gupta indicated that the collapse occurred during renovation work. "The building was old, and some construction and renovation work was underway. Some kind of excavation was being carried out in the basement, due to which a pillar shifted and the entire building collapsed," she said. The chief minister noted that the building was being used as a paying guest (PG) accommodation and that children were inside when it collapsed. "Our priority is to save the lives of these children first. The rescue operation will continue in the same manner," she added.
The Rekha Gupta-led Delhi government ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident and directed that an FIR be registered against the building owner, the chief minister's office (CMO) said. "Following an on-site review and based on the preliminary assessment, the chief minister has ordered a Magisterial Inquiry of the incident and an FIR against the building owner," the CMO said in a statement. It added that those found responsible would face "the strictest provisions of the law."
Political leaders across parties responded to the tragedy. Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi expressed concern and called for intensified rescue and medical assistance. Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressed the need for safety measures in urban infrastructure and called for strict adherence to building regulations.
Congress leader Kumari Selja questioned the government over student safety in PG accommodations. "What is the BJP government doing? They have forgotten what happened at the coaching centre. A mafia is operating in Delhi. These children are sent away with so many hopes. They are the only support for their parents. Who is responsible for their safety?" she asked.
Former Delhi Chief Secretary Omesh Saigal said the incident should not be viewed as an isolated case, claiming similar incidents occur every few months. He raised concerns over unauthorised construction, alleging that "in some areas, one in five buildings is unauthorised; either the blueprints weren't approved, extra floors were added, or the construction is substandard."
NSUI President Vinod Jakhar said rescue operations were ongoing and conditions were dire. Delhi Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha president Rajat Choudhary appealed for speedy rescue efforts and urged political parties to avoid politicising the tragedy.
Meanwhile, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) ordered the immediate sealing of all illegal constructions with more than four floors in the city. An investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the collapse, with officials looking into whether structural issues or other factors contributed to the tragedy.
The collapse has raised fresh questions over the safety of buildings used as PG accommodations and the enforcement of construction and fire safety norms in densely populated parts of the national capital.