Source TOI
NEW DELHI — A major search and rescue operation is currently underway in Northwest Delhi’s Rohini area after a multi-storey, under-construction building collapsed on Wednesday afternoon following heavy rainfall in the national capital. Several people are feared trapped underneath the rubble.
The incident occurred at approximately 4:20 PM in Rohini Sector 16, directly opposite an MCD (Municipal Corporation of Delhi) school. The sudden collapse of the structure sent shockwaves through the neighborhood, prompting immediate panic before emergency services were alerted.
Emergency Response and Rescue Efforts
The Delhi Fire Service (DFS) received an emergency call at 4:19 PM and quickly mobilized resources. Four fire tenders, two water bowsers, a multipurpose vehicle, and a specialized intensive rescue tender were immediately dispatched to the site.
They were soon joined by teams from the Delhi Police, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and the Delhi State Disaster Management Authority.
According to preliminary official updates, at least two individuals have been successfully pulled out from the debris so far. However, authorities are yet to confirm the exact number of people who remain trapped or provide an official statement regarding casualties.
Locals Lead Initial Heroic Efforts
Before the arrival of professional disaster response teams, local residents rushed to the site to help. Videos circulating on social media show neighbors forming human chains to clear broken bricks, twisted iron rods, and heavy concrete slabs with their bare hands and makeshift tools.
Visuals from the scene also capture the intense nature of the ongoing operation, with firefighters and rescue personnel using specialized hydraulic cutters to carve out paths through the debris. In several instances, rescuers were seen lying flat on the concrete slabs, attempting to look through narrow cavities to establish contact with anyone trapped underneath.
Weather Factor and Regulatory Scrutiny
While the collapse directly coincided with a heavy spell of monsoon rain that lashed several parts of Delhi on Wednesday afternoon, structural engineers and authorities have noted that the building was undergoing construction or renovation work. Officials stated it is too early to determine whether the structural failure was primarily caused by the heavy downpour or pre-existing structural issues.
The area surrounding the building has been tightly cordoned off to give heavy earth-moving machinery and rescue vehicles unhindered access. Senior officials from the Delhi Fire Service and Delhi Police remain on-site to supervise the mission as the race against time continues into the night.
Further details regarding casualties and the structural integrity of the site are awaited as the rescue operation progresses.
