Key Takeaways

• At least three people died and nine were rescued from the collapsed structure.
• The five-story building was used as PG accommodation for students near Delhi University.
• Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Delhi CM Rekha Gupta responded to the incident.
• DUSU campaigner Krishna Bhardwaj helped pull students from debris before official help arrived.

The collapse of a five-story building in Delhi’s Satya Niketan area has resulted in at least three deaths and nine rescues, according to officials. The incident occurred in a congested colony near the heart of Delhi University’s South Campus, where the structure was being used as PG accommodation. Emergency teams are currently engaged in intensive operations to recover trapped individuals.

The disaster unfolded suddenly when a "sudden tremor" caused the building, known as Hostel Daze, to collapse. Residents of nearby buildings were sent rushing out of their homes only to witness the horror of a pile of rubble where student accommodation once stood. The area, lined with private student hostels, eateries, and shops, was bustling with activity at the time. Many local residents and bystanders immediately scrambled to remove debris with bare hands and whatever tools they could find, hoping to aid those trapped inside before formal rescue teams could arrive.

Krishna Bhardwaj, a first responder from Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh who was in the capital campaigning for the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections, was among those who rushed to the site. He recounted that he and approximately 25 to 30 members of his team began pulling students out of the rubble even before police and fire personnel arrived. Bhardwaj told The Hindu that he was sitting on his scooter, about to start moving, when the building fell directly in front of his eyes. He emphasized the narrow escape, stating, "If the scooter was any closer, we would have been under it." His heroic efforts highlight the immediate, chaotic response from local citizens who acted with urgency.

Delhi Fire Service officials confirmed that eight people were rescued from the collapse site. However, police reports indicate that at least one person has died, though other sources suggest the death toll may be higher. The building was identified as a 40-50-year-old structure comprising a basement and five upper floors. Local enquiries revealed that the basement was undergoing repair or construction work when the incident occurred. A Delhi Police official named Rajen Chhetri provided details about the occupancy, stating that the building had around 15 rooms with two to three students sharing each space.