Delhi building collapse LIVE updates: Six rescued, several feared trapped - The Hindu

**Delhi building collapse LIVE updates: Six rescued, several feared trapped**

*Delhi, September 6 2026* – A three‑storey paying‑guest (PG) residence for university students in the North‑East district of Delhi collapsed late on Tuesday evening, sending shockwaves through the city’s academic community. The structure, which housed several undergraduate boys from nearby Delhi University (DU) colleges, gave way at approximately 19:45 IST, trapping a number of occupants under the rubble. Rescue crews from the Delhi Fire Service, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and local police arrived within minutes, pulling six survivors out of the debris. One 20‑year‑old student was pronounced dead at the scene, while officials say at least eight others remain unaccounted for.

BJP MLA **Rohit Singh**, who arrived on the scene shortly after the collapse, reported hearing frantic phone calls from trapped students: “We could hear them shouting and making phone calls for help. Their voices were clear, and they kept urging us to hurry.” The MLA urged the state government to expedite the rescue operation and called for a thorough investigation into the building’s structural integrity. The incident has quickly become a political flashpoint, with opposition parties demanding accountability and the ruling party facing criticism for lax enforcement of building safety codes. Prominent activist **Abhijeet Dipke** took to social media, questioning whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi would visit the campus again to “explain” the circumstances that led to the tragedy.

The collapse reignites longstanding concerns over unsafe student accommodations in Delhi, where rapid urbanisation and high demand for affordable housing have often outpaced regulatory oversight. The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has pledged a comprehensive audit of all PG hostels within a 5‑kilometre radius of the university, while the municipal corporation announced a moratorium on new student housing permits until compliance checks are completed. Families of the missing have been urged to register with the authorities, and a counselling helpline has been set up for affected students and their relatives. As rescue operations continue through the night, the city grapples with the immediate humanitarian crisis and the broader imperative to prevent a repeat of such avoidable disasters.