At least four people have lost their lives and several others are feared trapped after a four-storey residential building collapsed in northeast Delhi’s Mustafabad area in the early hours of Saturday. The tragic incident, which occurred at approximately 3:02 am, has shaken the local community and drawn attention to the fragile condition of buildings in densely populated urban pockets.
According to Delhi Police, emergency calls started pouring in shortly after the collapse, prompting a swift response from multiple rescue teams. So far, 14 people have been rescued from the rubble and rushed to Guru Teg Bahadur (GTB) Hospital. Sadly, four of them were declared brought dead by hospital authorities. The remaining victims are currently undergoing treatment for injuries of varying severity.
Officials from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Delhi Fire Services, and Delhi Police are continuing extensive search-and-rescue efforts. However, the narrow lanes and congested layout of the Mustafabad area are posing serious logistical challenges for bringing in heavy earthmoving equipment and other necessary machinery. A senior NDRF official said, “We are deploying every possible resource, but access is very limited. It’s a race against time, and we’re trying to save as many lives as we can.”
CCTV footage from a nearby house captured the precise moment of the collapse. The footage, timestamped around 2:30 am, shows a sudden and violent cloud of dust engulfing the alley as the building gives way. Locals can be seen rushing to the scene in panic and confusion, trying to locate loved ones and assist those buried under the debris.
The cause of the building’s collapse is still under investigation. While no official reason has been confirmed yet, early speculation suggests that structural instability, substandard construction practices, or possible illegal modifications may have played a role. The Delhi Police have registered a case and are questioning the building owner, the contractor, and other parties involved in the construction and maintenance of the structure.
Local residents claim they had previously raised concerns about the building's condition. "There were visible cracks, and water leakage was a constant issue. We complained, but nothing was done. Now lives are lost," said Shakeel Ahmed, a neighbor.
This incident comes amid a worrying trend in the Delhi-NCR region, where multiple building-related accidents have occurred in recent weeks. Just days earlier, two people were killed and three injured in separate incidents — one in Delhi’s Madhu Vihar and another in Karol Bagh. In Madhu Vihar, a 67-year-old man was killed after a wall collapsed at an under-construction site. In Karol Bagh, a 13-year-old boy lost his life after a newly built third-floor balcony suddenly caved in and struck him while he was walking on the street below.
The latest Mustafabad collapse has reignited public outcry over unsafe buildings and poor oversight by civic authorities. Residents, activists, and community leaders are demanding urgent action, including thorough audits of aging structures, stricter enforcement of building codes, and accountability for officials who fail to act on complaints.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and assured full support to the victims. In a statement, he said, “I have instructed officials to ensure the best possible medical care for the injured and a comprehensive probe into the incident. Those responsible for negligence will not be spared.”
As rescue teams continue to dig through the debris, time remains critical. Families of the missing are camping out near the site, anxiously waiting for updates while rescue workers labor around the clock, hoping to save lives before it’s too late. The tragedy is yet another reminder of the urgent need for safe urban infrastructure and the consequences of ignoring early warning signs.
