Seemapuri building collapse: 2 dead, including 1-year-old child; multiple feared trapped

Delhi: A 1-year-old child was among two people killed after a four-storey building collapsed in Delhi’s Seemapuri area. At least eight people have been rescued injured, while multiple others are feared trapped under the debris as NDRF, Delhi Fire Services, police and civic teams continue the rescue operation.

The five-storey residential building in E-Block, New Seemapuri, collapsed at around 3:30 pm on Wednesday. The structure, reportedly built on a plot of around 25 square yards, also partially damaged two adjoining buildings.

Delhi Fire Service received the first call at around 3:30 pm and sent four fire tenders to the site. The National Disaster Response Force was also called in to assist with the rescue operation.

Eight injured people, including a child aged around three, were rescued and taken to the GTB Hospital emergency department, which is currently operating from the Rajiv Gandhi Hospital campus.

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Families search for relatives trapped under debris

Residents described frantic efforts to locate family members following the collapse.

Sameena, a resident, told Hindustan Times that her 21-year-old sister Gulfisha, who is four months pregnant, was trapped beneath the debris along with her four-year-old daughter and the building owner’s daughter.

According to Sameena, Gulfisha managed to call from beneath the rubble and said she was struggling to breathe.

Another resident, Haseena, said her mother was also feared trapped after being caught in the collapse while crossing the street.

Residents raise concerns over nearby demolition

Ameena, the building owner’s daughter, alleged that demolition work had been taking place at an adjoining building for five to six days.

She claimed machinery being used for the demolition had affected their building.

The family had reportedly moved into the building around four months ago after it was newly constructed.

The allegation about the adjoining demolition has not been independently established in the reports.

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Eight injured taken to hospital

Officials said eight people rescued from the collapse were taken to GTB Hospital.

Those identified among the injured included building owner Mohammed Anwar, his wife Salma, their son Abdur Rehman, three-year-old Abdan and tenant Sakina.

The injured were being treated at the emergency department.

The rescue operation was being conducted jointly by the Delhi Fire Service, NDRF, police and civic authorities.

Building collapse comes weeks after Satya Niketan tragedy

The Seemapuri collapse comes about a month after a boys’ PG building in Delhi’s Satya Niketan collapsed on September 6 during repair work.

Seven people were killed and several others were injured in that incident.

Following the Satya Niketan collapse, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi intensified enforcement drives against dangerous buildings, unauthorised construction and violations of building regulations.

According to an ANI report cited in the source material, the civic body also carried out demolition drives in several areas, including Old Seemapuri, on Tuesday.

The Seemapuri collapse puts renewed focus on the condition and construction of buildings in densely populated parts of Delhi. The incident also comes shortly after enforcement drives were intensified following the fatal Satya Niketan collapse.

At this stage, the cause of the Seemapuri building collapse has not been conclusively established. Residents have raised allegations about demolition work at an adjoining property, but any connection between that work and the collapse would need to be established through an official investigation.

The immediate priority remains the search for people who may still be trapped and treatment of those rescued. A detailed structural and civic investigation is also likely to be important in determining whether construction, structural weakness, nearby demolition or any other factor contributed to the collapse.