A devastating wall collapse near Mohan Baba Mandir in Jaitpur, southeast Delhi, claimed the lives of seven people on Saturday morning, as relentless heavy rainfall battered the national capital. The incident, triggered by a fierce downpour that began late Friday night, has left the city grappling with grief and questions about structural safety in vulnerable areas.

The Delhi Fire Service (DFS) received an urgent call at 9:16 a.m., reporting the collapse. "Badi deewar gir gayi hai," the panicked caller exclaimed, noting that four to five individuals were trapped beneath the debris. Three fire tenders, alongside police and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams, were swiftly deployed to the site.

Despite initial reports from the DFS suggesting eight fatalities, police later clarified that seven victims—three men, two women, and two minor girls—succumbed to their injuries. One survivor, 27-year-old Hasibul from Murshidabad, West Bengal, is currently receiving treatment at Safdarjung Hospital’s trauma centre.

The rescue operation was a race against time. Jaitpur’s Station House Officer (SHO), accompanied by Additional DCP (South-East) Aishwarya Sharma and ACP Ravishankar, led efforts to break through the debris using ropes and other tools. "We pulled out eight individuals and rushed them to AIIMS Trauma Centre and Safdarjung Hospital," a senior police officer reported. Despite exhaustive searches by the DFS and NDRF, no additional victims were found.

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The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued a red alert for Saturday, following heavy rainfall that began around 11 p.m. Friday, inundating Delhi-NCR. The relentless downpour caused widespread waterlogging, traffic disruptions, and reports of minor wall collapses and fallen trees across the city. Authorities suspect that the overnight rains, which weakened the soil and caused waterlogging, likely contributed to the collapse. "The intensity of the rain was unprecedented," said a DFS official. "We’re investigating whether poor maintenance, construction flaws, or natural causes played a role."

Local residents expressed shock and anger, pointing to neglected infrastructure in Jaitpur, a low-lying area prone to flooding. "This isn’t the first time heavy rains have caused damage here," said Ramesh Kumar, a nearby shopkeeper. "The authorities need to inspect these old structures before more lives are lost."

Police have registered a case under relevant legal sections and launched an investigation to determine the wall’s ownership, structural condition, and any negligence involved. "We’ll be recording statements from witnesses and the survivor to piece together what happened," the officer added.

As Delhi reels from this tragedy, the incident underscores the urgent need for improved urban planning and infrastructure resilience in the face of increasingly unpredictable weather patterns. With the IMD forecasting more rain in the coming days, the city remains on high alert, bracing for potential further challenges.

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