A three-story commercial building collapsed near the Saket Metro station in South Delhi on Saturday evening, leaving one person dead and eight others injured. Emergency responders launched an extensive overnight rescue operation after the structure on Western Marg in the Saidulajab area suddenly gave way, trapping several people under the debris. Authorities confirmed that all injured individuals were rescued and shifted to the hospital for treatment.
According to officials from the Delhi Fire Services (DFS), the victim has been identified as 26-year-old Ravi. The eight injured people were rescued from the site and admitted to the AIIMS Trauma Centre. Those injured include residents from Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, and Bihar. Officials said the condition of the rescued individuals is being monitored by medical teams.
The collapsed structure housed a coaching institute, cafes, and office spaces, making it a busy commercial establishment frequented by students and professionals. Authorities said construction work was reportedly underway on the upper floor when the incident occurred. The collapse completely reduced the building to rubble, with debris also crashing onto a nearby tin-shed canteen regularly visited by students preparing for medical entrance examinations.
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Rescue efforts involved multiple agencies, including the Delhi Fire Services, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), Delhi Police, and local volunteers. Officials said seven of the injured were rescued by emergency teams, while two others were pulled out by local residents before professional rescuers reached them. The coordinated operation continued through the night to ensure no one remained trapped.
Specialized equipment was deployed at the site to aid search and rescue efforts. Teams used heavy machinery, hydraulic cutters, victim-location cameras, and sniffer dogs to search through the debris. Rescue personnel worked carefully to remove rubble while minimizing risks to those trapped beneath the collapsed structure. The operation concluded after authorities were satisfied that all victims had been accounted for.
The exact cause of the collapse remains under investigation. Authorities are expected to examine whether ongoing construction work, structural weaknesses, or violations of building regulations contributed to the incident. The tragedy has once again raised concerns about building safety standards and enforcement in densely populated urban areas, particularly where commercial properties undergo renovation or expansion while remaining operational.
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