One Dead and Several Trapped After Two Buildings Collapse in Rohini Sector 16
Two under-construction buildings collapsed in Rohini Sector 16, Northwest Delhi, on Wednesday afternoon, killing a 42-year-old passerby and leaving several others feared trapped under the rubble. The incident occurred at approximately 4:19 PM, triggering a massive emergency rescue operation by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Delhi Fire Services, and Delhi Police.
The deceased was identified as Ram Kishore, a 42-year-old mechanic who was riding his motorcycle past the site when the structures collapsed. Two people were successfully rescued alive from the debris. Among the survivors was 32-year-old labourer Saddam, who was trapped under the rubble for nearly four hours before being pulled out by NDRF personnel. Saddam, who suffered fractures on the right side of his body and was treated for suffocation, reported that at least six people were inside the building at the time of the collapse.
The second survivor was pulled out alive at 7:50 PM, after being trapped for three hours. Authorities fear that four to five labourers, along with Ram Dua, the husband of one of the building owners, remain trapped beneath the collapsed structures.
According to Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) officials, the two adjacent buildings, located at properties G-4/152 and G-4/153, were in their final stages of construction. Both properties, measuring around 26 square metres each, had received building plan approvals under the SARAL scheme in March and April 2025.
A preliminary inquiry suggests that ongoing plumbing work, which involved drilling or cutting into columns and beams, may have triggered the structural failure. Officials are also investigating whether the foundation experienced differential settlement or if the two buildings were being connected into a single structure.
The rescue efforts were severely hampered by heavy rain and the massive volume of debris. Joint CP Vijay Singh stated that the area was secured, nearby buildings were evacuated as a precaution, and rescue routes were kept clear to assist emergency teams. Ankush Narang, the leader of the opposition in the MCD, has demanded a fair probe into the incident and strict action against those found responsible.
