3 dead in Seemapuri building collapse: Tremor claims, trapped people and a desperate rescue op; what we know

NEW DELHI: At least three people, including a pregnant woman and a child, were killed and eight others, including a three-year-old child, were injured after a four-storey building collapsed in northeast Delhi’s Seemapuri area on Wednesday, officials said.Eight people were rescued from the debris and were shifted to hospitals, they added. The body of a child aged around one-and-a-half years, with its head severed, was recovered from the rubble, officials said.Authorities suspect that cracks that developed in the building following tremors caused by an earthquake in Uttarakhand on Tuesday evening may have contributed to the collapse. However, the exact cause of the incident is yet to be ascertained.Locals said they could hear the voices of people trapped beneath the debris as rescue operations continued.According to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), neighbours claimed that cracks had appeared in the structure following the earthquake and that the building owner was in the process of vacating it.Seemapuri building collapse: Latest updates* Toll rises to three including a child and a pregnant woman.* 1 child dead, 7 injured: A child was killed and eight people, including another three-year-old child, were rescued from the affected area, officials said. Rescue and relief operations are ongoing.* 4 JCBs, multiple ambulances at spot: Heavy machinery and ambulances have been deployed as teams continue to clear the rubble and search for those who may still be trapped.* Collapse at around 3.15pm: Locals said the building collapsed at around 3.15pm. The Delhi Fire Service received the distress call at around 3.30pm and rushed fire tenders to the spot.* Rescue work continues: Delhi Police, fire officials, civic teams and civil defence personnel are working at the site.What happened in Seemapuri?* The front portion of the five-storey building collapsed on a market road in New Seemapuri. The debris also partially damaged two adjoining buildings.* The building fell onto an Eidgah next to it. Locals said children regularly play in the Eidgah and the adjoining street.* Electricity in the area was cut after the building fell onto a pole and snapped wires up to the market area. Locals join rescue operation* Local residents immediately rushed to the site and began clearing bricks and rubble with their bare hands. They claimed they pulled out four people, including a child, before authorities arrived.* Videos from the spot showed residents pulling a woman from beneath the debris and carrying her away.* A local resident said injured people were also shifted to hospitals by residents."Police came after half an hour. There is a child still trapped, and some have been rescued by people and sent to hospitals. I have given CPR myself. Two to three people have been sent to hospital," he said. ‘Building expanded in phases over years’: Local residentSaalam, 42, who lives next to the collapsed building, said the structure had originally been two storeys."The 5-storeyed building had been constructed just over a year ago. It had originally been 2 storeyed. Around 2 years ago the owner demolished the second floor to build 2 more floors, making it 3 storeyed. Just over a year ago 2 more floors were constructed," he said.Locals said the collapsed building was painted and appeared better maintained than several nearby buildings that did not have plaster or paint. Who lived in the collapsed building?Kishore, 41, who runs a snacks shop next to the building, said the owners, a father and mother and their two married sons, lived on the first, second and third floors."The building housed the owners - father and mother with 2 married sons - who lived on 1st, 2nd and 3rd floor. 4th floor was rented out. Ground floor housed their scrap business," he said.Kishore added that the elder daughter-in-law had gone to her parents' house, the younger daughter-in-law was offering namaz and the father was at a godown when the building collapsed."One son and his mother were rescued from debris in a semi-conscious state. 'adh mari haalat thi unki'," he added.Most people living in the area are garbage collectors, ragpickers and scrap dealers, locals said.Nearby building had already been ordered demolishedA three-storey building next to the collapsed structure had tilted, following which its owner informed police.Authorities conducted an audit and ordered the building to be demolished.Demolition work had started two to three days before Wednesday's collapse.Did tremors cause the collapse?Locals claimed the building had developed cracks after tremors were felt across Delhi-NCR following an earthquake in Uttarakhand on Tuesday night."I was sleeping when my house shook and a thundering sound woke me up. I ran, thinking it was an earthquake and the jhuggi was collapsing because of it. Outside, a cloud of dust had blanketed the entire jhuggi. The tremors were stronger than yesterday's actual earthquake," said Sakina Jahan, 60, a local resident.Officials have not established any link between the earthquake and the collapse. The exact cause will be determined after a detailed investigation. Traffic hit around SeemapuriDelhi Traffic Police advised commuters to avoid Seemapuri Gol Chakkar, DLF Bhopura and adjoining roads.People were urged not to stop, park or gather near the site.Authorities said keeping the roads clear would allow ambulances, fire tenders, JCBs and other emergency vehicles to move freely. Collapse comes a month after Satya Niketan tragedyThe Seemapuri collapse comes a month after a building in southwest Delhi's Satya Niketan collapsed on September 6, leaving seven people dead and 12 injured.The latest incident has again raised concerns over building safety and structural vulnerabilities in the capital.(With PTI inputs)You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Delhi | Silver Rate in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi | Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Petrol Price in Delhi | Diesel Price in Delhi | CNG Price in Delhi | LPG Price in DelhiStay updated with the latest Delhi news. Download the TOI App.