![\"\u2018Sounded](\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/msid-131413427,imgsize-26546,width-400,height-225,resizemode-72\/a-five-storey-building-near-delhi39s-saket-metro-station-collapsed-on-saturday-evening-following-a-loud-sound-residents-described-as-a-quotgenerator-blastquot.jpg\")
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\nNEW DELHI: Residents recounted hearing a loud sound resembling a \u201cgenerator blast\u201d moments before a five-storey building collapsed near Saket Metro station on Saturday evening, triggering panic and a large-scale rescue operation.According to police, the ground floor of the building housed a coaching institute, while construction work was underway on the upper floors. Officials suspect that students and other occupants may be among those trapped.A local resident, who lives behind the building, said he initially thought the sound was an explosion. “I live right behind the building, and suddenly there was a sound like a generator blast,” he recounted.He added that dust, mud and rubble quickly filled the surroundings, prompting him to warn others not to step outside before learning about the collapse.The resident also said there were reports of people being trapped inside and that rescue teams were already at work.Locals and neighbours rushed to the spot as emergency services launched search and rescue operations. Many people were also seen using mobile phone torches to look through the debris.Some residents said the building regularly had students and office workers, raising concerns that the situation could have been more severe if it had collapsed during peak hours.“It was a commercial building where students attended classes and people worked. Had the collapse occurred during office hours, the damage could have been even worse,” a resident said.Another local said the impact appeared limited to a few nearby structures, which remained largely unaffected.“The impact was limited to a few smaller structures nearby, while the surrounding buildings remain intact,” he said.He also noted that the glass-fronted building made it difficult to determine how many people were inside at the time of the collapse.According to him, the premises usually saw heavy footfall of around 300 to 400 people during working hours, though fewer may have been present at the time of the incident.“The building collapsed completely like a pack of cards,” he remarked.He further said a small adjoining structure that housed a mess was also affected, though people there were safely evacuated and no major injuries were reported from that spot.After a building collapsed in South Delhi’s Saket, a local resident says, “At around 6 pm, a building collapsed. The building housed offices. Since it was a weekend, most offices were closed, resulting in fewer people present than usual… The entire building collapsed, and the impact was felt by some of the smaller neighbouring buildings as well.”The building was left completely flattened, with debris, concrete slabs and broken pillars scattered across the site. The narrow lane remained crowded as rescue teams continued operations, with ambulances stationed nearby.The Delhi Fire Services said it received a call about the collapse at 7.44 pm.The incident took place on Western Marg in Saidulajab, near Saket Metro station, and seven fire tenders were deployed.Officials are yet to confirm the exact number of people trapped, while rescue operations continue.Further details are awaited.<\/div>\n