A building used as a student dormitory in New Delhi collapsed, resulting in at least 7 deaths and dozens of injuries, while rescue teams are urgently searching for survivors who may be trapped under the rubble.
Foreign news agencies reported that the death toll from the collapse of a five-story building in New Delhi rose to at least 7 on Monday, 7 Sep 2026 GMT+7. Additionally, 12 injured people were hospitalized as rescue teams continued their search for possible survivors trapped beneath the debris.
The building, named “Hostel Daze,” was a student dormitory located in the Satya Niketan area in southwest New Delhi. It collapsed on the afternoon of Sunday, 6 Sep, with reports indicating that dozens of students were inside the building at the time.
Rekha Gupta, Chief Minister of Delhi, stated that the collapse was due to waterlogging combined with unauthorized modifications involving excavation of the basement to expand dormitory space. Heavy rain accumulation caused the structure, estimated to be 40-50 years old, to weaken and collapse.
Following the incident, police arrested the building’s owner and suspended five senior officials of the New Delhi Municipal Corporation (MCD) for negligence. Authorities also ordered evacuation and planned demolition of adjacent buildings to ensure safety.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is using cutting tools and clearing brick and concrete debris to find survivors. Since the collapse occurred on a Sunday, many students were resting in their rooms. Witnesses reported hearing cries for help from beneath the rubble before rescue teams arrived.
Student unions have complained that private dormitories in the area are often overcrowded and dilapidated, lacking proper safety inspections. However, students are compelled to rent these accommodations due to insufficient university dormitory availability.
Follow international news:https://www.thairath.co.th/news/foreign
Source:bbc