Covered in dust, with blood stains visible on his face and chunks of concrete surrounding him, a student trapped beneath the rubble of a collapsed PG building in south Delhi’s Satya Niketan managed to make a video call seeking help.
An 11-second video of the student, shared on X by the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), shows him lying under the debris and slowly moving his phone camera around the cramped space where he was trapped.
The student appears to alert a friend about his condition and seek assistance as rescue operations continue at the site.
The video has offered a disturbing glimpse into the ordeal faced by students trapped inside the building. Six people have died in the collapse so far.
Building Collapsed Around 1:30 PM
Around 40 to 50 students are believed to have been inside the building when it collapsed at around 1:30 pm on Sunday.
The building, identified as Hostel Daze, was around 50 years old and was being used as a paying guest accommodation for boys.
Police said repair and renovation work was being carried out on the ground floor when the structure collapsed.
Locals, however, claimed that water had accumulated in the basement following several days of rain, possibly affecting the building’s foundation.
Police have registered an FIR against the building owner, Hariram, and others on charges including culpable homicide, negligence in maintaining the structure and endangering public safety.
Rescue Teams Receiving Calls From Trapped Students
Eleven people have been rescued so far, while search and rescue operations continued for those believed to be trapped under the debris.
Ten injured people were taken to the AIIMS Trauma Centre, according to the hospital.
BJP MLA Anil Sharma, who visited the collapse site, said rescue teams were continuing to receive calls from people trapped inside the building.
“We are even getting calls from those who are trapped inside. Teams are continuously in touch with those who are trapped inside; we pray to God that all people are safe,” Sharma said on Sunday.
Locals also said some students trapped beneath the rubble had managed to make phone calls seeking help.
Rescue personnel continued to clear the debris, while local residents joined the effort and used their hands and available tools to assist in the rescue operation.
Building Located Near Delhi University’s South Campus
The collapsed structure was located in the congested Satya Niketan area near Delhi University’s South Campus, which has a large number of student PGs, eateries and shops.
A senior Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) official said the building was around 50 years old and stood on a 55-square-yard plot in a resettlement colony.
According to the official, it was a G+4 structure, although the original permission was only for a G+1 building.
Rajen Chhetri, a local resident who works with Delhi Police, said the building had around 15 rooms, with two to three students staying in each room.
He also said repair or construction work was underway in the basement.
“Most of the students staying here are from Kerala, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh and study mainly at Motilal Nehru College, Atma Ram Sanatan Dharm College and Sri Venkateswara College. They were paying around Rs 12,000 per bed,” Chhetri said.
MCD Orders Action Against Illegal Construction
Following the collapse, the MCD ordered the immediate sealing of illegal constructions exceeding four floors.
An adjoining building being used as a women’s PG was also evacuated and sealed as a precautionary measure.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta visited the collapse site and ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident.
Search and rescue operations continued at the site as teams worked to locate those still believed to be trapped beneath the debris.
