Dozens feared trapped in collapsed building in Delhi

Dozens feared trapped after Delhi building collapse

A residential building in India’s capital, Delhi, has collapsed, with dozens of students feared trapped inside.

Witnesses told local media that up to 50 people were inside the five-storey building in the Satya Niketan area of south-west Delhi when it fell at about 13:30 local time (08:00 GMT) on Sunday.

NDTV, citing local police, reports that at least one person was killed and two others are in a critical condition. Six people had reportedly been rescued so far.

Construction work had been taking place in the basement of the building, Hostel Daze, which is located a short distance from the Delhi University campus.

Many of the students living there were believed to have been in their rooms when the collapse happened, as there were no classes on Sunday.

A member of the legislative assembly said at the scene that some of the trapped students had been calling from beneath the rubble.

Eyewitnesses told local media that another building next to the hostel had also collapsed.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said a neighbouring building had been evacuated "as a precautionary measure".

"Every possible effort is being made to safely rescue those trapped," she added.

Delhi Police said the building was only 40 or 50 years old.

The owner of a nearby shop told news agency ANI that it was on a 100-year lease and that the leaseholder had carried out excavation work in the basement to boost income.

"They strengthened the upper building, but the pillars below were weak," he said, adding that the construction workers had also been buried.

The National Students' Union of India urged the government to investigate what caused the collapse and to hold anyone responsible accountable.

"Negligence with the safety of students and common people will not be tolerated at any cost," it said.

Police are looking for the building's owner, Times of India reports.