New Delhi:
In a devastating incident that shook northeast Delhi in the early hours of Saturday, a four-storey residential building crumbled to the ground in the Mustafabad locality, claiming four lives and leaving multiple residents feared trapped. The collapse, which took place around 3 AM, was caught on CCTV, providing a chilling glimpse into the sudden destruction.
Emergency teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Delhi Police, and the fire department reached the scene shortly after receiving distress calls. Additional DCP (North East) Sandeep Lamba reported that 14 people had been rescued so far, although four did not survive. Authorities suspect that 8 to 10 more individuals could still be under the debris as rescue efforts continue.
Divisional Fire Officer Rajendra Atwal revealed that the first alert came in at approximately 2:50 AM.“When we reached the scene, the entire building had already crumbled to the ground.” Multiple teams are on site working tirelessly to reach those still trapped,” he said.
Eyewitnesses described a horrifying scene. One neighbor stated that two brothers lived in the house along with their spouses and six children. “No one has seen them since the building went down. We’re all waiting for any news,” the resident said, visibly distraught.
The incident occurred just hours after a powerful thunderstorm and heavy rainfall swept through the national capital, causing waterlogging and infrastructure strain. Although the exact cause of the collapse remains under investigation, weather conditions are being looked at as a possible contributing factor.
This catastrophe comes close on the heels of a similar accident last week, when a section of a six-storey building under construction in Madhu Vihar caved in during a dust storm, resulting in one fatality and two injuries. That structure was also being investigated for structural compliance.
Authorities have launched a formal probe into the Mustafabad incident, while also inspecting nearby buildings for any signs of structural vulnerability. Rescue operations are ongoing, and officials have urged residents to exercise caution around aging or weather-affected structures.
