NEW DELHI: At least five people have been injured after a five-storey building collapsed in northeast Delhi’s Seemapuri area on Wednesday afternoon. Several others are feared trapped under the rubble, officials said on Wednesday.The Delhi Fire Service received a distress call at around 3.30 pm reporting the collapse of the front portion of the structure near Idgah Machhli Mandi in New Seemapuri.The Delhi Fire Service (DFS) received a call regarding the building collapse at around 3.30pm and rushed fire tenders to the spot.Delhi Police, civic officials and civil defence personnel also reached the site and launched a search and rescue operation.Deputy commissioner of police (Shahdara) Rajendra Prasad Meena said some people had been rescued and sent to hospitals, while two to three were suspected to be trapped under the debris.“It’s a five-storey building measuring 225 square feet. Some people have been rescued and sent to hospitals, but we suspect that two to three people are still trapped under the debris. They are talking… rescue operation is underway,” he said.The incident caused traffic snarls around Seemapuri Gol Chakkar, DLF Bhopura and adjoining roads following which the Delhi Traffice Police issued an alert on X.“A multi story building has collapsed in Seemapuri and rescue teams are working at the site. Traffic is affected around Seemapuri Gol Chakkar, DLF Bhopura and adjoining roads.”It appealed to people not to stop, park or gather near the site and said keeping lanes clear would allow ambulances and rescue vehicles to move faster.“Every clear lane gives an ambulance and rescue vehicle a faster way through. Please avoid the area if possible. Do not stop, park or gather near the site, and follow the directions of traffic personnel,” the post read.“Police came after half an hour. There is a child still trapped and some have been rescued by people and sent to hospitals. I have given CPR myself. Two to three people have been sent to hospital,” the local said.Locals claimed the building had developed cracks following the tremors felt in Delhi-NCR due to an earthquake in Uttarakhand on Tuesday night. Officials, however, said the actual cause of the collapse will be ascertained after an investigation.The incident comes nearly a month after a five-storey building collapsed in southwest Delhi’s Satya Niketan area on September 6, killing seven people.
