New Delhi [India], April 19: Rescue efforts continued on Saturday after a four-storey building collapsed in Delhi’s Mustafabad area in the early hours, killing four people, with 12 still feared trapped under the debris. The incident, which occurred around 3:00 AM, has raised serious concerns about illegal construction and administrative negligence.
Deputy Inspector General of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Mohsen Shahedi, described the challenges faced by rescue teams.
“According to locals, around 12 people are still trapped. The area is congested, making it difficult for heavy machinery to operate. But we’re working hard to save lives,” he told ANI.
So far, 14 people have been rescued, but officials fear more may still be under the rubble. Teams from the NDRF, Delhi Fire Service, and Delhi Police are working in coordination to carry out the rescue operation.
Delhi Legislative Assembly Deputy Speaker and local MLA Mohan Singh Bisht, who visited the site, slammed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) for ignoring repeated warnings.
“Three months ago, I had said that this building could cause an accident. I informed the Delhi LG and MCD Commissioner, but no action was taken,” said Bisht.
He promised appropriate compensation for the families of the deceased and accused both MCD and power companies of corruption and neglect.
“Mustafabad is full of such unsafe, illegally constructed buildings. Electricity poles run through homes, yet the poor don’t get legal power connections,” he added.
Additional DCP Sandeep Lamba confirmed the rescue statistics and ongoing efforts.
“Fourteen people were pulled out, but four unfortunately died. The rescue continues, with 8 to 12 people still feared trapped,” he said.
Divisional Fire Officer Rajendra Atwal noted that his team received the first emergency call around 2:50 AM and responded swiftly.
This tragedy highlights the urgent need for stricter urban safety checks, infrastructure regulation, and accountability in Delhi’s rapidly growing and densely packed neighborhoods.