Delhi (The COW News Digital) At least seven students have been killed after a five-storey private hostel building collapsed in India’s capital New Delhi, while authorities fear that dozens of people could still be trapped beneath the debris.
The incident occurred in South Delhi, where rescue teams launched a major operation shortly after the building suddenly collapsed. According to Indian officials, rescuers have so far pulled 11 people out of the rubble as efforts to locate others continue.
Authorities estimate that between 30 and 50 students may still be trapped beneath the collapsed structure. Emergency personnel are using heavy machinery to clear large sections of debris while search teams continue looking for signs of survivors.
Initial reports suggest that water had accumulated in the basement of the building, where repair work was reportedly underway before the collapse. However, officials have not yet established the exact cause of the incident, and a detailed investigation is underway.
Rescue officials are working carefully through the wreckage because the possibility of additional survivors remains. Emergency teams have been deployed to different sections of the site, while heavy equipment is being used to remove concrete and other structural debris.
CCTV footage of the incident has also surfaced on social media. The footage reportedly shows the building collapsing suddenly, with people in the surrounding area seen running toward safer locations immediately after the structure came down.
The incident has raised concerns about the safety of buildings being used to accommodate students, particularly where construction or repair work is taking place. Authorities are expected to examine the condition of the structure and determine whether any safety violations contributed to the collapse.
According to a Reuters report cited in initial coverage, several people, including students, were inside the building when it collapsed. Rescue operations continued as emergency workers searched through the debris.
Officials have not ruled out the possibility of finding more survivors, and the final death toll could change as rescue teams gain access to areas that remain buried.
Authorities are expected to provide further updates as the search operation progresses and investigators work to establish the circumstances that led to the deadly collapse.
