A major search and rescue operation was launched in northeast Delhi’s Seemapuri area on Wednesday afternoon after a five-storey building collapsed, leaving several people feared trapped beneath the rubble.
The Delhi Fire Service (DFS) received an emergency call at around 3:30 PM and immediately dispatched fire tenders to the site to initiate rescue efforts.
The tragedy strikes just a month after a similar building collapse in Satya Niketan claimed seven lives and injured several others, raising fresh concerns over structural safety and building code adherence across the capital.
Dramatic visuals from the location captured scenes of panic and solidarity. Scores of local residents gathered at the site, with many using their bare hands to move heavy stone slabs and clear pathways for emergency workers.
Delhi Traffic Police issued an urgent travel advisory, requesting commuters to steer clear of Seemapuri Gol Chakkar, DLF Bhopura, and adjoining stretches to ensure unobstructed passage for ambulances and heavy machinery.
“A multi-storey building has collapsed in Seemapuri and rescue teams are working at the site,” Delhi Traffic Police stated on X (formerly Twitter). “Every clear lane gives an ambulance and rescue vehicle a faster way through. Please avoid the area if possible.”
Rescue personnel, alongside local authorities, remain on-site as clearance operations continue to determine the exact number of people caught under the debris.
