Three people were killed after a building collapsed in Delhi's Satya Niketan on Sunday, with police registering an FIR against the building owner as an investigation into the incident got underway.

Five people are reported to be in critical condition, according to PTI sources. The collapsed structure was being used as a paying guest accommodation, with several students living in the building.

The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon, triggering a massive rescue operation involving disaster management teams, fire personnel, police and civic authorities.

The Delhi Fire Department received an alert at around 1:30 pm, following which emergency teams rushed to the site. Delhi Police said six people were rescued from the debris and shifted to hospitals as search operations continued.

Preliminary enquiries suggest the building was around 40 to 50 years old and consisted of a basement and five upper floors. Repair work was underway in the basement when the structure collapsed, police said.

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Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta reached the site to take stock of the situation and oversee the ongoing rescue efforts.

South Delhi BJP MP Ramvir Singh Bidhuri said the government had formed an inquiry committee to investigate the collapse and assured strict action against those found responsible.

An FIR has been registered against the building owner, he said, adding that action would be taken based on the findings of the inquiry.

Delhi Mayor Pravesh Wahi, who also visited the site, said the immediate focus was on saving those trapped under the debris.

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"We want the children to be saved," Wahi said, urging people to allow rescue teams to continue their work.

Meanwhile, NDMC Vice-Chairperson Kuljeet Singh Chahal said preliminary indications pointed to work being carried out to open up the basement within the existing structure.

"It appears that work was being done to open up a basement in the existing structure. It is a deeply unfortunate event," Chahal said, adding that authorities would take strict action against those found responsible.

Rescue teams remained deployed at the site as efforts continued to search the rubble and ensure that no one remained trapped.

With agency inputs