Delhi, Ap 19: Four people lost their lives and several others are feared trapped after a building collapsed in the Mustafabad area of Delhi early Saturday morning, police reported.
The incident occurred around 3 a.m. when the four-storey building crumbled, trapping many residents under the debris. Delhi Police confirmed the death toll and stated that the rescue operation was ongoing.
Sandeep Lamba, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police for the North East District, said, "Four people died after the building collapsed. 14 others have been rescued, but tragically, four of them succumbed to their injuries. The building was a four-storey structure, and rescue teams are still working at the site. Eight to ten people are still feared to be trapped."
Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Delhi Police, and the dog squad are at the scene, working tirelessly to search for survivors. Rescue operations are in full swing.
This tragic event took place shortly after Delhi experienced a sudden change in weather on Friday night, with heavy rainfall and thunderstorms hitting various parts of the city.
The building, which housed between 20 to 25 residents, collapsed around 2:50 a.m., according to Rajendra Atwal, Divisional Fire Officer. He said, "We received a call about the collapse at 2:50 a.m. Upon arrival, we found the entire building had fallen, trapping people under the rubble. NDRF and Delhi Fire Services are currently working to rescue those trapped."
So far, eight people have been rescued and taken to GTB Hospital for treatment. The cause of the collapse remains unclear at this time.
In a separate incident last week, a wall of an under-construction building near Madhu Vihar police station collapsed during a dust storm, killing one person and injuring two others.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast for Saturday predicts "partly cloudy" skies, with conditions turning "generally cloudy" by evening. There is a possibility of light rain or drizzle, accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and dust storms, with winds reaching speeds of 40-50 km/h, gusting up to 60 km/h. The maximum temperature is expected to be around 38°C, with a minimum of 26°C.
