Delhi Building Collapse: Death Toll Rises to Three as Rescue Operation Ends

New Delhi: The death toll in the collapse of an under-construction four-storey building in Delhi's Rohini area has risen to three after rescuers recovered two more bodies from the debris, officials said on Thursday.

The overnight rescue operation, launched after the structure collapsed amid heavy rainfall on Wednesday evening, has now been completed. A total of five people were pulled from the debris, including three rescued by personnel from the Delhi Fire Service (DFS).

According to officials, two of the individuals rescued by the fire service succumbed to their injuries after being extricated, while another was admitted to hospital with injuries. Before emergency teams arrived, local residents had rescued another person, who was later declared dead at the hospital.

The building collapsed at around 4.20 pm on Wednesday near MCD school in Sector 16 of Rohini, prompting a large-scale rescue effort involving the Delhi Police, DFS, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Revenue Department and other agencies. Heavy machinery was deployed to clear the debris.

A preliminary assessment by the MCD indicated that plumbing work was underway inside the building when the collapse occurred. Officials suspect that drilling or cutting of structural components, including beams and columns, may have weakened the structure and contributed to the incident.

However, civic authorities said the exact cause of the collapse will only be determined after a detailed technical investigation.

Delhi Police have launched a comprehensive probe to examine whether the construction complied with approved building plans, assess the quality of construction, identify any unauthorized structural alterations, and determine the responsibility of all those involved in the project.