Five Dead After Building Collapses in Delhi’s Bhajanpura

12 students have been rescued while some are still feared trapped from the building.

Rescue operation underway at New Delhi’s Bhajanpura

(Photo Altered by The Quint)

Five people, including four students, were killed when a floor of a building collapsed in New Delhi's Bhajanpura area on Saturday, 25 January, news agency PTI reported quoting fire officials.

The officials also said around 30 students were attending classes at a coaching centre when the fourth floor of the building collapsed, trapping them under the debris.

Thirteen people have been shifted to a hospital, the officials said.

The Fire Department received a call around 4:30 pm, following which seven fire tenders were rushed to the spot, they said.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal visited the site and said that an investigation will be ordered.

"The construction was going on illegally. We will give orders to investigate how MCD allowed it," he said, adding that the Delhi government will request the Election Commission to allow a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the family of each victim.

Delhi BJP leader Manoj Tiwari also visited the spot.

Delhi L-G Anil Baijal expressed grief on the incident and said that he has directed concerned authorities to provide support.

"Action will be taken against those found guilty of lapses which led to this tragic accident," ANI quoted him as saying.

‘Shocked’

The families of those who died in the building collapse said they were stunned when they heard the news of the accident,” according to PTI.

Arif Sultan, father of the deceased, Farhan Sultan, 6, said his daughter called and informed him about the incident. “I was in office when my daughter, who studies in class 8, called me and told me about the collapse. My son was studying on the second floor along with 10 to 15 other students. I rushed to the spot,” Sultan said.

“I, along with other local people, climbed up the stairs and reached the area where the students were trapped. I took out my child by myself after around one and a half hour. He was not breathing. We took him to the hospital where he was declared dead, “ Sultan added.

Laxmi, the mother of the deceased, Krishna and injured Nitin, said the students shouldn't have moved to the third floor.

“My children were studying there for the past six months. The owner of the building should not have moved the students to the third floor as we heard from the other locals that they placed construction material on the floor which made it more heavier,” she said.

Another family said they had been lucky that their kids escaped the tragedy.

Sushil Sharma said his nieces were studying in the institute, but were not in the building when the incident happened.

(With inputs from ANI and PTI)