National: A four-storey building collapse in Delhi’s Mustafabad area in the early hours of Saturday, April 19, has claimed at least four lives, with rescue efforts underway to save others still feared trapped beneath the rubble.
The incident occurred around 3 am, prompting an immediate response from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), dog squads, local police, and concerned residents who rushed in to assist.
According to Additional DCP (North East District) Sandeep Lamba, 14 people have been rescued so far, but four were declared dead. “We estimate that 8 to 10 individuals may still be under the debris,” he said, noting that operations are ongoing.
Visuals from the scene show a massive effort involving specialized teams carefully clearing debris as anxious locals await news of their loved ones.
Eyewitnesses reported that two men, along with their two daughters-in-law and six children, were residents of the collapsed building. “We’re still trying to locate them. No one has been found yet,” a neighbour said, his voice laced with worry.
The tragic collapse came hours after a bout of intense rain and thunderstorms swept through the city on Friday night, raising concerns about the structural integrity of older buildings in the area.
This incident follows closely on the heels of another construction-related tragedy in Delhi last week, when a wall of a six-storey under-construction building near Madhu Vihar police station caved in during a dust storm. That collapse resulted in one death and injuries to two others.
Authorities are now facing growing scrutiny over construction safety and infrastructure resilience in the capital.