4 dead in Saket Metro building collapse, search on for trapped survivors

Four people were killed and several others are feared trapped after a five-storey building collapsed near Saket Metro station in South Delhi on May 30, triggering a massive multi-agency rescue operation that continued through the night.

The building, located in the Saeedulajab area near the busy metro corridor, came crashing down at around 7:44 pm. The structure housed coaching institutes, cafes and offices, while construction work was reportedly underway on one of the upper floors at the time of the collapse.

Authorities said at least 10 people have been pulled out from the debris so far. Seven were rescued by the Delhi Fire Service, while three others were extricated by members of the public and Police Control Room personnel before emergency teams arrived.

All the rescued individuals were rushed to the AIIMS Jai Prakash Narayan Apex Trauma Centre. Officials said three victims remain in critical condition and are undergoing intensive treatment, while six others are stable and under observation.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta visited the site to review rescue operations and monitor the situation. Expressing concern over the incident, she said emergency teams were working on a "war footing" and that every effort was being made to save those trapped under the debris.

"The safety and well-being of every citizen remain our highest priority," she said in a post on X.

Rescue operation intensifies

As the scale of the collapse became clear, authorities expanded rescue efforts by deploying additional personnel, senior officials and specialised equipment. Teams worked through the night using floodlights, cutting tools and advanced search devices to locate possible survivors trapped beneath tonnes of concrete.

The Delhi Fire Service led the initial response before reinforcement arrived from multiple agencies. Water tenders, light vehicles and heavy rescue equipment were brought in to assist with debris clearance and search operations.

Civil Defence officials at the site said five to six people were still feared trapped.

Deputy Chief Warden (Headquarters) of Civil Defense Dharamvir Sejwal said rescue efforts were continuing at full scale.

"All of my seniors are here. Five to six people are still trapped. Rescue work is underway," he said.

He also suggested that possible irregularities linked to the building could have contributed to the tragedy, noting that the structure stood in a commercial zone.

Students among those affected

The collapse has deeply affected students frequenting the area.

Balwant Yadav, whose daughter Neelam was injured in the incident, said the 25-year-old was inside a canteen adjacent to the collapsed structure when the building suddenly gave way.

Neelam had recently returned from abroad after completing her MBBS and was preparing for postgraduate medical entrance examinations at Arise Medical Academy in Saket.

According to Yadav, around 30 to 35 students were present in the canteen at the time. Most were medical aspirants attending coaching classes nearby.

"My daughter suffered a fracture in her leg and is currently undergoing treatment," he said.

Residents said the area is usually crowded with students, office workers and visitors throughout the day, making the collapse particularly alarming.

Massive multi-agency response

The rescue operation involves personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Delhi Fire Service, Delhi Police, Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Civil Defence teams and CATS ambulance services.

Teams are carefully removing debris layer by layer in an effort to locate survivors while avoiding further structural risks.

What police said

According to South Delhi DCP Anant Mittal, police first received information at around 7:35 pm regarding a suspected explosion and building collapse. A PCR call confirming the incident followed shortly afterwards.

Personnel from Mehrauli police station immediately reached the location and found that an old building had collapsed, with debris falling onto a nearby porta cabin reportedly being used as a canteen by medical students.

Authorities feared several people could be trapped beneath the rubble and quickly launched a coordinated rescue effort. A green corridor was created to facilitate the rapid movement of ambulances transporting the injured to hospitals.

Officials have not yet determined the exact cause of the collapse. Preliminary reports suggest the building was partially under construction, but investigators are yet to establish whether structural defects, ongoing construction activity or other factors triggered the disaster.

With several people still feared trapped, rescuers continue to work against time, hoping to find survivors beneath the debris.