New Delhi building collapse leaves one dead and several trapped

A five-story building housing a boys’ hostel collapsed in New Delhi on Sunday, killing at least one person and trapping several others beneath the debris.

The building stood in Satya Niketan, a densely populated neighborhood near a Delhi University campus known for private student accommodations. Officials did not immediately say how many people remained trapped, although the Press Trust of India reported that dozens of people lived there.

Lawmaker Anil Sharma said some people had been rescued. Several others trapped inside were calling for help, and rescuers remained in contact with them. Police, firefighters and teams from India’s disaster response agency worked through the rubble as earthmovers cleared debris.

At least two people were taken to hospital in critical condition, officials said. The cause of the collapse remained unknown. Building collapses pose a recurring risk in parts of India during the June-to-September monsoon, when heavy or prolonged rain can weaken aging structures.