Panic, desperate searches after building collapse near Delhi’s Saket Metro station

Panic and uncertainty swept through south Delhi’s Saidulajab area on Saturday night after a four-storey building near Saket Metro Station collapsed, killing a 26-year-old man and injuring at least eight others as rescuers raced to locate people feared trapped under the debris.

A massive rescue operation involving multiple agencies continued through the night, with teams pulling nine people from the rubble and searching for additional survivors. Family members, friends and local residents crowded the area, anxiously awaiting updates on those believed to be inside the building when it came crashing down.

Witnesses described scenes of chaos moments after the collapse.

“All we could hear were screams coming from under the rubble. There was a huge cloud of dust. When it settled, we realised that part of an adjoining structure had also been affected,” a resident told PTI.

The building on Western Marg reportedly housed a mess facility, paying guest accommodation, a coaching institute, cafes and offices. Residents said construction work was underway on the third floor when the structure collapsed.

Relatives of those feared trapped expressed frustration over the rescue efforts. One woman waiting for information about her mother alleged that local residents had responded faster than authorities and said repeated complaints had been made about the building’s condition.

Students and young professionals who frequented the premises remained gathered near the site, fearing friends could still be buried beneath the rubble.

Gaurav Kumar, 23, who lives in a nearby PG accommodation, said he had been unable to contact a friend who regularly visited the mess and coaching centre.

“I’ve been calling him for hours. The phone rings, but he isn’t answering. I’m worried he may be trapped inside,” he said.

Some local residents claimed the building was a busy commercial and residential hub and feared the number of people inside at the time of the collapse could have been significant, though authorities have not confirmed such estimates.

Rescue operations involved personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Delhi Fire Services, Delhi Police, the Delhi Disaster Management Authority, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Civil Defence teams and CATS ambulances.

According to Delhi Fire Services, nine people had been rescued by around 3.45 am on Sunday. Eight were shifted to the AIIMS Trauma Centre, while one victim, identified as Ravi, was declared dead on arrival.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said all available resources had been deployed and that agencies were working in coordination to rescue those trapped and support affected families.

Police said search and rescue operations would continue until all possible survivors had been accounted for. The cause of the collapse remains under investigation.