Residential Building Collapses in Delhi's Karol Bagh, 12 Rescued; Relief Operations Underway

New Delhi: A two-storey residential building collapsed in Bapa Nagar area of Karol Bagh in the national capital on Wednesday morning, trapping several people under its debris, said police. So far, 12 people have been rescued from the rubble and sent for hospital for treatment. There were no immediate reports of any casualties.

Soon after receiving the information, the fire department pressed a total of five fire tenders to the site. The Delhi Fire Services (DFS) received the call reporting the collapse at around 9.11am. 

According to police, it was an old building, spanned across approximately 25 square yards area. Meanwhile, rescue teams, including personnel from Delhi Police, have arrived at the scene to assist in relief and rescue operations. 

According to DCP Central M Harsh Vardhan, "At around 9 AM, information of a building collapse was received at Prasad Nagar Police Station from the area of Bapa Nagar. An old building of approximately 25 square yards area has collapsed. So far, 8 persons have been rescued and sent to the hospital. It is feared that some more may be trapped. Local police, NDRF, Delhi Fire Services and other agencies are carrying out rescue operations. No death has been confirmed yet. Legal action will be taken once the rescue operation is over."

It is learnt that all those who were trapped under the debris were tenants. They all are workers who shifted to Delhi from Rampur and Bareily in Uttar Pradesh.

A local resident while speaking to Republic said that claimed that additional floors were added to this "unsafe house."

The resident claimed that Municipal Corporation of Delhi, which is already under fire over the death of three IAS aspirants due to drowning at the basement of a coaching centre, used to treat the residents in an uncouth and rude manner when the problems were addressed to them. 

The exact reason behind the house collapse incident in not known. Rescue operations are currently underway. More details are awaited.