New Delhi: At least three killed as five-story building collapses, dozens trapped in rubble

At least three people died when a five-story building collapsed on Sunday in New Delhi’s Satya Niketan district, while dozens remained trapped beneath the rubble, officials said.

The building housed a boys’ student dormitory in the densely populated area, which is known for private student accommodation near a campus of the University of Delhi. Fire officer Abhilash Malik said around 30 to 40 people were still trapped.

Some people had been rescued, lawmaker Anil Sharma said. Others who remained buried were communicating with rescuers by telephone and asking for help. Police, firefighters and India’s disaster-response teams searched the wreckage as excavators removed debris to open access to those trapped.

Officials said at least two injured people were being treated in critical condition. The cause of the collapse remained unknown. The report noted that building collapses occur frequently in some parts of India during the monsoon season, from June to September, when heavy rainfall can weaken the foundations of older structures.

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around 30 to 40 people remain trapped beneath the rubble