New Delhi, October 2026 : A portion of a multi-storey building collapsed in Delhi’s Seemapuri area on Wednesday, triggering a rescue operation as several people were feared trapped under the debris, officials said.
The Delhi Fire Service immediately dispatched two fire tenders to the site after receiving information about the collapse. Rescue teams began operations at the building, while police and traffic personnel moved to regulate movement around the affected area.
The Delhi Traffic Police, in a post on X, confirmed the incident and said rescue teams were working at the site.
“A multi storey building has collapsed in Seemapuri and rescue teams are working at the site,” the traffic police said.
The collapse caused significant disruption to traffic around Seemapuri Gol Chakkar, DLF Bhopura and adjoining roads. Authorities appealed to commuters to avoid the area wherever possible to ensure that emergency vehicles could reach the site without obstruction.
“Every clear lane gives an ambulance and rescue vehicle a faster way through. Please avoid the area if possible. Do not stop, park or gather near the site, and follow the directions of traffic personnel,” the Delhi Traffic Police said.
Officials continued to assess the situation as rescue personnel searched through the debris for possible survivors. Further details about the number of people trapped or injured were not immediately available.
The incident comes barely a month after another multi-storey building collapse in Delhi’s Satya Niketan area claimed seven lives, including five students. The tragedy had raised renewed concerns over the safety of buildings and compliance with regulations governing construction and unauthorised structures in the national capital.
Following the Satya Niketan collapse, the Supreme Court directed authorities across the country to file affidavits detailing the measures taken to comply with its earlier directions concerning unauthorised constructions.
A Bench comprising Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and R. Mahadevan accepted a suggestion made by amicus curiae Ajit Kumar Sinha that authorities should place before the apex court reports on the action taken in accordance with its previous orders.
The Supreme Court was informed that the Delhi High Court was separately dealing with a public interest litigation concerning the Satya Niketan building collapse. On September 7, the High Court had directed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi to submit a report in the matter and listed the case for further hearing on September 25.
The amicus curiae told the Supreme Court that the proceedings before the Delhi High Court could continue while the concerned authorities also submit a comprehensive report before the apex court on the issues involved in the proceedings.
The court was further informed that inspections had already been conducted in several areas covered by its earlier directions. These included Lajpat Nagar, Malviya Nagar, Saket and Sarojini Nagar in Delhi, as well as Aliganj in Lucknow.
The Supreme Court was also told that issues arising from the Satya Niketan collapse were already being addressed through the action being undertaken by authorities and the reports expected to be filed before the court.
Accepting the suggestion, the Bench decided not to interfere with the ongoing proceedings before the Delhi High Court.
“For the present, do not disturb the position of the case before the High Court,” the Bench said, allowing the proceedings there to continue.
The apex court also requested the Delhi High Court to monitor the public interest litigation at short intervals.
The latest collapse in Seemapuri is likely to once again draw attention to building safety, structural inspections and enforcement of construction norms in densely populated parts of Delhi. Rescue and assessment operations at the site were continuing.
