‘Save us, save us’: Eyewitness recalls cries from rubble after building collapses near Delhi’s Satya Niketan | Delhi News
NEW DELHI: Cries of “save us, save us!” from children trapped under the rubble could still be heard after a building collapsed near Shiv Mandir in Delhi’s Satya Niketan area on Sunday afternoon, an eyewitness said.The eyewitness, who runs a shop near the site, said he and others rushed out after hearing a loud rumbling sound.“We were sitting inside the shop when we suddenly heard a sound, like the rumble of an earthquake. We rushed out immediately. There was a lot of smoke and dust, and the entire building had collapsed,” he said.The eyewitness said several people were feared trapped inside the rubble, including children. “There are at least 25-30 children.There was a boys’ PG and a girls’ PG nearby. Four-five people have been rescued and two-three bodies have been recovered. More are likely to be found,” he said.He said rescue teams had pulled out four children who were still breathing and that cries could still be heard from beneath the debris.“Sounds are still coming from within the rubble — children are crying out, ‘Save us, save us!’” he said.The eyewitness also said labourers working inside the building at the time of the collapse were feared buried under the rubble. “Fruit vendors are also stuck,” he added.Another eyewitness said the collapsed building was called “Hostel Daze”, a dedicated boys’ PG that had five floors. He said the building adjacent to it had also collapsed.“All the students who were inside their rooms got trapped under the rubble. We will only know the exact number of trapped students by checking the registration records,” he said.According to the first eyewitness, construction work was being carried out in the building, including work to create a basement and rental space on the ground floor.He claimed the upper structure had been reinforced while the pillars at the bottom were weak, and alleged that the renovation work may have led to the collapse. The claims could not be independently verified.The Delhi Fire Services received a call about the collapse at around 1.33pm. Rescue teams reached the site at around 1.50pm and began search operations.Several teams, including Search and Rescue, Breathing Apparatus and Water Bowser units, have been deployed at the site. Rescue operations are continuing as emergency personnel search for those trapped under the rubble.BJP MLA from RK Puram Anil Kumar Sharma, who was present at the site, said several students living in the PG were feared trapped inside the collapsed building. He said two children had been rescued and taken to hospital.The MLA said some of those trapped were also making phone calls from beneath the rubble, as multiple agencies continued efforts to rescue them.Rescue operations are still underway.
