A building housing a five-storey boys' PG collapsed near Satya Niketan in South-West Delhi on Sunday, trapping students under the rubble and triggering a massive multi-agency rescue operation.

The Delhi Fire Department received an alert about the collapse at around 1.30 pm. Rescue teams from the NDRF, Delhi Fire Services, Delhi Police and other agencies rushed to the site, where efforts are underway to locate and pull out those trapped.

An eyewitness identified the collapsed building as 'Hostel Daze', a dedicated boys' PG, and said an adjacent structure had also collapsed.

According to the eyewitness, students who were inside their rooms when the building came down were trapped beneath the debris.

"The exact number of students trapped will only be known after checking the registration records," the eyewitness said, adding that many students had suffered serious injuries and were being pulled out with difficulty.

Rescue teams began operations immediately after the collapse and have been working through the debris to reach those trapped.

Cries for help heard from beneath rubble

Another eyewitness described panic in the area moments after the collapse.

"We were sitting inside when we suddenly heard a sound like the rumble of an earthquake. We immediately rushed out. There was smoke and dust everywhere, and the entire building had collapsed," the eyewitness said.

The witness claimed that cries for help could still be heard from beneath the rubble, with children allegedly calling out for rescuers to save them.

The eyewitness also claimed that several people had been pulled from the debris, including children, though authorities are yet to officially confirm the number of people rescued, injured or killed.

There are also fears that students from nearby PG accommodation could be among those trapped.

Students feared trapped under debris

BJP MLA Anil Sharma, who visited the site, said it was clear that students were trapped inside, although the exact number was yet to be established.

"Students come here from different places to study and stay in PGs. We cannot say whether five, ten or twenty students are trapped, but we know that students are inside," he said.

According to Sharma, two students had been rescued. He also said some people trapped beneath the debris were reportedly making phone calls, raising hopes that more survivors could be reached.

CM Rekha Gupta says rescue operation underway 'on a war footing'

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said rescue operations were being carried out "on a war footing", with multiple agencies deployed at the site.

In a post on X, the Chief Minister said teams from the DDMA, NDRF, Delhi Fire Services, Delhi Police, MCD, CATS and Civil Defence were involved in the operation.

She added that an adjacent building had been vacated as a precautionary measure.

"Every possible effort is being made to safely rescue those trapped and provide immediate assistance to the affected families," Gupta said.

The Chief Minister said the situation was being closely monitored and agencies were working in coordination.

Rescue operations remain underway, with authorities yet to confirm the exact number of people trapped, injured or killed in the collapse.