A newly constructed building in Delhi’s Rohini area collapsed on Wednesday evening, leaving one person dead and several others feared trapped beneath the debris. The incident occurred at adjoining properties G-4/152 and G-4/153 in G Block, Sector-16, prompting a massive multi-agency rescue operation.
According to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), both buildings had recently been constructed after receiving sanctioned building plans under the SARAL Scheme in March and April 2025. During a preliminary inspection, officials found that plumbing work was reportedly underway at the site before the collapse.
As per enquiries with local residents and people present at the spot, drilling or cutting of structural members such as columns and beams may have been carried out in connection with the plumbing work. MCD, however, clarified that the exact cause of the collapse cannot be conclusively established at this stage.
The civic body said preliminary observations indicate that the collapse may have resulted from structural failure and/or differential settlement of the foundation. It added that the overall supervision of the construction rested with the architect and structural engineer who had obtained the building plan sanction.
The collapse was reported to Delhi Police through a PCR call at around 4:28 PM. Senior police officers, including the DCP Rohini, immediately reached the site, secured the area, evacuated nearby buildings as a precaution and ensured smooth movement of rescue vehicles.
During the rescue operation, 42-year-old Ram Kishore was pulled out from the debris and taken to hospital, where he was declared brought dead. Another worker, Ravi (35), was rescued safely.
Authorities also fear that four to five labourers remain trapped inside the collapsed structure.
A coordinated rescue operation involving Delhi Police, NDRF, Delhi Fire Service, MCD, Tata Power, Ambulance Services and the Revenue Department is underway. Heavy machinery, including private JCBs and Hydra cranes, has been deployed to remove large concrete slabs and speed up rescue efforts.
In a critical rescue effort, teams established contact with one trapped individual, supplied him with drinking water and arranged oxygen through a cylinder brought from a nearby hospital. Police also arranged generators and lighting facilities to ensure uninterrupted rescue operations after dusk.
Rescue operations are continuing, while authorities investigate the exact cause of the building collapse.
