New Delhi [India], September 6 (ANI): The death toll in the Satya Niketan building collapse incident has reached four, according to Delhi police, which said on Sunday evening.
Police said an FIR will be registered shortly in connection with the incident, while simultaneous raids are underway to apprehend the accused.
A multi-pronged rescue operation is underway.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday expressed grief over the loss of lives, terming the incident as "distressing."'
“The collapse of a building at Satya Niketan, Delhi is distressing. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones,” the Prime Minister's office said in a post on X.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta interacted with doctors and health officials as she arrived at the AIIMS Trauma Centre to meet individuals rescued from the incident site and brought here for medical treatment.
Meanwhile, Congress MP Pawan Khera said that the building collapse incident points towards the alleged shortage of hostels.
"We can clearly see that there is a shortage of hostels. The conditions in which they are living have now come before everyone. We have seen building collapses before. We have also seen fires in coaching centres. It should be the responsibility of governments. But here, the opposite is happening. Our complete sympathies are with the affected families, and we hope that everyone can be rescued as soon as possible through the ongoing rescue operations, " he told ANI.
"Four people have died in the Satya Niketan building collapse incident. An FIR will be registered shortly. Simultaneous raids are underway to apprehend the accused," Delhi police.
An eyewitness says, "There was an old building opposite the temple that was being run as a PG. Recently, work was being done in its basement. When it rained, the basement flooded, causing the entire building to collapse. This happened around 1 AM. There was open space in front of the temple, but the building collapsed because it was old and had five or six floors. Since there are usually at least two students per room, I estimate there would be no fewer than 30–40 students... The building opposite this one doesn't have pillars either. As for this one, it certainly didn't have them because it was an old building. It was originally built back when the Satya Niketan colony was first established... I can't say for sure if it was being excavated, but it is confirmed that work was going on in the basement."
A PCR call regarding the building collapse was received at around 1:34 pm at Police Station South Campus. (ANI).
Satya Niketan building collapse: FIR will be registered shortly, says Delhi police; death toll reaches 4
