New Delhi: A major mishap occurred in the national capital on Sunday evening when a slab of an under-construction house collapsed in the Harsh Vihar area. Authorities fear that several laborers might be trapped under the massive pile of debris, prompting an immediate and extensive rescue operation by emergency services.
The incident took place in Milan Garden, located in northeast Delhi’s Harsh Vihar. According to preliminary reports, construction work was in full swing, and workers were in the process of laying the concrete slab—locally referred to as a lanter—for the first floor when the structure suddenly gave way. Local sources alleged that the construction was being carried out illegally, raising serious questions about the enforcement of building safety norms in the locality.
The Delhi Fire Services (DFS) confirmed that they were alerted about the emergency late in the evening. A senior DFS official stated that the control room received a distress call regarding the building collapse at exactly 6:46 pm. Recognizing the potential severity of the situation, the fire department swung into action without delay.
According to news agency ANI, five fire tenders were immediately dispatched to the spot to assist in clearing the rubble and locating any trapped individuals. “Rescue operations are currently underway. Our teams are diligently searching the debris to ensure that no workers are left trapped underneath,” an official present at the site remarked.
Local police personnel also arrived promptly, cordoning off the area to prevent crowds from gathering and to allow the rescue teams to carry out their operations smoothly. Medical teams and ambulances have been put on standby. The exact number of laborers working at the site at the time of the collapse is still being verified by the authorities.
The sudden collapse has triggered panic among the residents of Milan Garden. While the immediate focus remains on rescue and relief efforts, civic authorities are expected to launch a thorough investigation to determine the exact cause of the structural failure and to verify the allegations of unauthorized construction. Further details on casualties or injuries are awaited as the search operation continues deep into the evening.