At least six students killed after residential building collapses in Delhi

At least six students have died, and dozens of others are trapped following the collapse of a residential building in India. It has been reported that the five-story residential building, which held a hostel, collapsed in Delhi at around 1:30 p.m. local time on Sunday, Sept. 6.

Witnesses who spoke with local media said as many as 50 people were inside the more than 40-year-old building at the time of the collapse. Many are students, as the hostel is located close to Delhi University’s south campus in the city’s Satya Niketan neighborhood.

Rescue workers, including several local fire departments, were dispatched to the scene to help dig people out of the rubble. Police said that construction work was underway in the basement when the collapse occurred. At least eight people were rescued immediately, and officials are still working to confirm the number of people still trapped in the building, though it is thought to be about 30 to 40. The exact number of people trapped/injured is still not known at present.

One local legislative assembly member said that some of the students who are still trapped inside have been making calls from beneath the rubble. Chief Minister of Delhi Rekha Gupta shared that an adjacent building was evacuated as a precautionary measure.

According to officials, the collapsed building, known as Hostel Daze, had about 15 rooms with two to three students in each, and a medical shop operated on the ground floor. Furthermore, the outlet reported that many of the students were thought to be in their rooms at the time of the collapse, as there were no lessons on Sunday.

Several colleges within Delhi University, including Motilal Nehru College, announced in the aftermath of the collapse that classes would be canceled on Monday, Sept. 7. The college also shared in an announcement that students who need shelter can find accommodation and food at the Motilal Nehru building.

Police said they had identified the building’s owner and were trying to locate him. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said officials would act after the incident, , although the cause of the collapse was not immediately known while the National Students’ Union of India issued a statement calling on the government to investigate the cause of the collapse and hold anyone involved responsible.

Building collapses are a common occurrence in parts of India, particularly during the monsoon season from June to September, as heavy or prolonged rain can weaken aging or weak structures.