Building Undergoing Renovation Collapses In Delhi's Satya Niketan, Two Dead

The fire department said that the building which has collapsed is three-storeyed and its renovation work was going on.

New Delhi: Atleast five labourers who were trapped after an under-construction building in Delhi's Satya Niketan area collapsed were rescued and two dead bodies have been retrieved from the debris on Monday, as reported by the news agency quoting NDRF officer Goverdhan Bairwa.

"The fifth person rescued from the debris of an under-construction building that collapsed in Satya Niketan area of Delhi, this afternoon."

Atul Garg, Director of Delhi Fire Services said, "We received a call around 1:24 pm about a house collapse in Satya Niketan building number 173 here. Six fire tenders have been rushed to the spot," as reported by news agency PTI.

The fire department said that the building which has collapsed is three-storeyed and its renovation work was going on. Teams are present on the spot for the rescue operation and efforts are on to rescue the people trapped under the debris.

"NDRF personnel rescued one person from the debris of an under-construction building that collapsed in Satya Niketan, this afternoon," as quoted by ANI.

"Our priority is to rescue the trapped labourers who were working inside the building which was under renovation. Since this building is in a congested area, the main challenge was to take the rescue vehicles inside the area. It was a difficult task. However, our vehicles have reached the spot and our men are already at work," Garg said.

"This was an old building and it was not in a good condition to go ahead with the renovation plans. We have got to know through local inquiry that the said building was being renovated to convert it into a PG accommodation. So, they must have broken some structure for this purpose which led to the collapse," he said.

"Since renovation was underway, no one was living in the building. It has also been found that there was no proper building plan. It was not a planned construction and was also not approved by the concerned authorities," he said.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southwest) Manoj C said police are also helping with the rescue operation.

"Our priority is to rescue the trapped men. My team and I are at the spot and helping the other agencies with the rescue operation," he said.

Meanwhile, South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) Mayor Mukesh Suryan said, "It was someone's house who wanted to get it repaired. We had pasted a notice on March 31 that the building is in danger zone. We also intimated the police, SDM on April 14. As per my knowledge, 2-3 people are trapped inside."

Delhi Fire Service said that 6 vehicles of fire tenders are also present on the spot. 

As soon as the information about the building collapsed, six fire tenders reached the spot and relief and rescue work is going on. JCB's help is also being taken to clear the debris accumulated on the spot and rescue the trapped people.

At present, the work of removing the debris from the bulldozer is going on at the spot. Eyewitnesses told that the repair work of this house was going on. There was an outcry after this incident. Immediately a call was made to the fire department and the rescue operation is still going on.