At Least Six Students Killed, Dozens Feared Trapped After Building Collapse

At least six students have died and dozens more are feared trapped after a five-story residential building housing a student hostel collapsed in India.

The building came down at around 1:30 p.m. local time on Sunday, Sept. 6, in the Satya Niketan neighborhood of Delhi, near Delhi University’s south campus.

Witnesses told local media that as many as 50 people may have been inside the more than 40-year-old building when it collapsed.

Many of those inside were students staying at the hostel.

Officials said at least six people were killed and three others were critically injured.

Rescue crews, including firefighters and teams from India’s National Disaster Response Force, rushed to the scene and began digging through the rubble in search of survivors.

At least eight people had been rescued, while authorities said they were still trying to determine exactly how many remained trapped.

Some estimates placed the number still inside at between 30 and 40 people.

“The exact number of persons trapped/injured is still not known at present,” officials said.

One local lawmaker told the BBC that some students trapped beneath the debris had managed to make phone calls from under the rubble.

Police said construction work was taking place in the building’s basement when the collapse happened, though officials have not yet confirmed what caused the structure to come down.

The building, known as Hostel Daze, reportedly had about 15 rooms, with two to three students staying in each room.

A medical shop also operated on the ground floor.

Because the collapse happened on a Sunday, authorities believe many students may have been inside their rooms at the time since classes were not in session.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said a neighboring building was evacuated as a safety precaution.

“Every possible effort is being made to safely rescue those trapped,” she said.

Several Delhi University colleges, including Motilal Nehru College, canceled classes for Monday, Sept. 7, following the disaster.

The college also offered temporary shelter and food to students who were displaced or unable to return to their accommodations.

Police said they have identified the owner of the collapsed building and are trying to locate him.

Gupta said authorities would take action following the incident, although the exact cause of the collapse had not yet been determined.

The National Students’ Union of India also called for a full investigation and demanded that anyone responsible be held accountable.

“Negligence with the safety of students and common people will not be tolerated at any cost,” the group said.

Building collapses are not uncommon in parts of India, particularly during the monsoon season, which typically runs from June through September. Heavy and prolonged rain can weaken aging or poorly maintained structures.