Delhi: One dead, several feared trapped after building collapse in Rohini

One person died and at least five others were feared trapped after an under-construction building collapsed in north-west Delhi’s Rohini on Wednesday afternoon, The Hindu reported.

The four-storey under-construction building collapsed near a municipal corporation school in Rohini’s Sector 16 at about 4.20 pm.

The Delhi Police, the fire service, the National Disaster Response Force, the municipal corporation and other agencies launched a rescue operation, PTI reported.

A 42-year-old motorcyclist, Ram Kishore, died after being struck by debris when the building collapsed, The Hindu reported. He was taken to hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival, unidentified officials said.

At least three persons were rescued alive, including construction worker Ravi and Saddham, who was admitted to Babasaheb Ambedkar Hospital with fractures to his pelvis and arm.

“At least four-five workers are suspected to be still trapped inside the collapsed structure,” an unidentified police officer told The Hindu.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Shashank Jaiswal told PTI that rescuers had established contact with one trapped man, provided him with water and arranged oxygen before pulling him to safety.

“We are trying to establish contact with the other people trapped under the rubble and rescue them as quickly as possible,” Jaiswal added.

The authorities have evacuated nearby buildings as a precaution, he told The Hindu.

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi said the collapsed structure was among recently constructed buildings in the area that had approved plans under a scheme for small residential buildings, PTI reported.

According to the civic body’s preliminary inspection, plumbing work was allegedly being carried out before the collapse, and structural elements such as beams or columns may have been drilled or cut during the work, the news agency reported.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the rescue operation was continuing and that the authorities had been directed to provide every necessary assistance.

Police have registered a first information report and the investigation is ongoing, ANI reported.

Pune: Workers trapped as waste mound collapses on building

A rescue operation was also underway in Moshi, Pimpri Chinchwad near Pune, after a large mound of waste collapsed on Wednesday onto a three-storey administrative building at the city’s waste processing facility, The Indian Express reported.

The building was located beside a large waste mound at the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s Moshi garbage depot.

Officials said heavy rainfall over several days may have caused the waste to become unstable before it crashed into the building, The Times of India reported.

Municipal Commissioner Vijay Suryawanshi said 20 employees were inside the building when it collapsed. Four escaped immediately, while several others were rescued during the evening.

As of 9.30 pm, six others, including five men and a woman, were rescued alive, The Times of India reported.

Rescue operations involving the National Disaster Response Force, the Army, firefighters and other emergency services continued overnight, with several people still believed to be trapped.

Officials said fresh air was being supplied into the damaged building using mechanical ventilation.

“Garbage has landed inside the structure and can generate toxic methane that can harm them,” fire officer Rishikant Chippade told The Times of India.

Edited by Neerad Pandharipande.