NEW DELHI: Two under-construction buildings collapsed in northwest Delhi’s Rohini on Wednesday, killing a 42-year-old man and leaving four-five labourers feared trapped beneath the debris.A preliminary enquiry suggests plumbing work involving the drilling or cutting of columns and beams may have triggered the collapse.Inquiry was under way whether the two buildings were being connected and constructed as a single structure. The deceased, identified as Ram Kishore (42), a mechanic, was riding his motorcycle past the site when the buildings came crashing down. The incident was reported around 4. 19pm.The Rohini cave-in incident was reported at around 4. 19pm, following which teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Delhi Fire Services and Delhi Police rushed to Rohini Sector 16 and launched a rescue operation.Videos of the operation showed a man moving his hand beneath the rubble to alert rescuers before he was pulled to safety.Three people were pulled out of the debris, one of whom was declared dead. The third person, pulled out alive at 7. 50pm, was under the debris for three hours, according to fire officials.The two buildings were owned by relatives, and Ram Dua, the husband of one of the owners, was among those trapped beneath the debris.
Construction in last stage
Saddam (32), one of the survivors, who was rescued after being under the rubble for around four hours, said there were at least six people inside the building when it collapsed, including the owner.He said he and another worker were on the second floor, while at least three others were elsewhere inside.Saddam said the entire structure collapsed within seconds. “It took barely two seconds. I was trapped under the debris and kept calling for help,” he said.He recalled that people located him about an hour later, but it took nearly four hours for NDRF personnel to clear the rubble, create enough space to reach him and pull him out.“I was suffocating and had almost lost consciousness when they rescued me,” he said. Saddam suffered fractures on the right side of his body and is undergoing treatment.Heavy rain and the massive heap of debris hampered rescue efforts, with teams carefully checking each section before removing the rubble to ensure no one remained trapped.Police said the building owner’s husband, Ram Dua, is suspected to be trapped beneath the debris, while four to five labourers are also feared to be inside.According to MCD officials, the two buildings were in the final stages of construction, with finishing work under way, when they collapsed.Field staff inspected properties G-4/152 and G-4/153, both of which had received building plan approvals under the SARAL scheme in March and April 2025. Each building stood on a plot measuring around 26 square metres.During the inquiry, residents told officials that plumbing work was under way and that columns and beams may have been drilled into or cut. The MCD said preliminary findings also point to possible structural failure or differential settlement of the foundation. However, officials said the exact cause can only be established after a detailed technical investigation.Ankush Narang, leader of opposition in the MCD, demanded a fair probe into the incident and sought strict action against those who are found responsible.Joint CP Vijay Singh said the area was secured, rescue routes were kept clear, nearby buildings were evacuated as a precaution, and adequate law and order arrangements were made to facilitate rescue operations.Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as the buildings collapsed. Sanjay Kumar (45), who was nearby to get his motorcycle repaired, said a loud noise was followed by a massive cloud of dust.Resident Kavita Kaur (39) narrowly escaped after parking her car moments before the collapse. She said she had once considered buying a flat in one of the under-construction buildings but decided against it.Sivaprasad, a relative of Ram Kishore, alleged that poor-quality construction materials had been used.(Inputs by Priyamvada Sharma and TN Mohammed Ishan)
