Tragedy in Mustafabad: Four Dead, Several Feared Trapped in Building Collapse

New Delhi: A four-storey building collapsed in Delhi’s Mustafabad area in the early hours of Saturday, killing four people and leaving several others feared trapped under the debris. The incident occurred around 3 a.m., triggering an immediate response from emergency services.

Sandeep Lamba, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police, North East district, confirmed that 14 individuals had been rescued from the rubble, but unfortunately, four of them succumbed to their injuries. “Rescue operations are still underway. We estimate that eight to ten people may still be trapped,” he stated.

Personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Delhi Police, Fire Services, and a dog squad are currently engaged in rescue efforts, working tirelessly to locate and extract those still buried under the wreckage.

The building collapse came hours after a sudden bout of heavy rain and thunderstorms swept across parts of Delhi late Friday night, raising concerns that weather conditions may have contributed to the structural failure. However, the exact cause of the collapse is yet to be determined.

According to Divisional Fire Officer Rajendra Atwal, the Delhi Fire Service received an emergency call around 2:50 a.m. “Our team reached the site promptly and found the entire structure reduced to rubble, with multiple people trapped beneath. NDRF and our fire personnel are on-site, continuing rescue operations,” he said.

Authorities reported that 20 to 25 people were residing in the ill-fated building at the time of the incident. So far, eight survivors have been transported to GTB Hospital for medical treatment.

This is the second such incident in recent days. Just last week, a wall at an under-construction building near Madhu Vihar police station collapsed during a dust storm, resulting in one death and two injuries.

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast more unstable weather for the capital. Saturday’s forecast predicts partly to generally cloudy skies, with chances of light rain or drizzle, thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds reaching speeds of 40–50 kmph, with gusts up to 60 kmph. Temperatures are expected to hover between 26°C and 38°C.

As rescue efforts continue, authorities are urging residents to remain indoors and avoid structurally weak buildings, especially during adverse weather conditions.