Four-Storey Building Collapses in Delhi, Six Dead, Eight Injured as Rescue Efforts Intensify
A devastating building collapse in the Welcome area of northeast Delhi has claimed at least six lives, including a two-year-old child, and left eight others injured as of Saturday, July 12, 2025. Rescue operations are in full swing, with multiple agencies battling challenging conditions to locate anyone still trapped under the rubble.
The Tragic Incident:
Location and Time: The four-storey residential building collapsed around 7:05 AM IST on Saturday morning in the Janata Mazdoor Colony, near Idgah Road, in Delhi's densely populated Welcome area.
Casualties: So far, six fatalities have been confirmed. Among the deceased are the building owner, Matloob (50), his wife Rabia (46), and their two sons, Javed (23) and Abdulla (15). Two other victims identified are Zubia (27) and her two-year-old daughter, Fozia.
Injured: Eight individuals sustained injuries and have been hospitalized. These include other family members of the building owner, such as his sons Parvez (32) and Naved (19), Parvez's wife Siza (21), and their one-year-old son Ahmad. Additionally, residents of an opposite building that also sustained damage, including Govind (60), his brother Ravi Kashyap (27), and their wives Deepa (56) and Jyoti (27), were among the injured.
Extent of Collapse: Police, upon reaching the scene, found that three of the four storeys of the building had caved in.
Herculean Rescue Operations:
Multi-Agency Response: Emergency responders, including the Delhi Fire Service (DFS), the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Delhi Police, and Disaster Management Authority personnel, are engaged in intensive rescue efforts. Seven fire tenders were dispatched immediately to the site.
Challenging Conditions: Rescue operations are proving extremely difficult due to the narrow lanes (reportedly only 2-3 feet wide) and congested layout of the Janata Mazdoor Colony. This prevents heavy machinery like cranes from accessing the site, forcing rescue teams to manually clear debris. Locals were among the first responders, assisting before official teams arrived.
Investigation Underway:
Cause Yet Unknown: The exact cause of the collapse is still under investigation. Officials have stated that a thorough probe will commence once rescue operations conclude.
Suspected Factors: However, experts and officials are pointing to several recurring issues in Delhi that contribute to such disasters:
Structural Deficiencies: Concerns about the structural integrity and design of the building have been raised, with preliminary assessments suggesting it may not have been designed to bear the load.
Unauthorized Construction: A significant portion of Delhi's urban landscape comprises unauthorized constructions, often built without adherence to safety standards. Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra specifically blamed "15 years of systemic corruption and vote bank politics" for allowing such multi-storey structures to proliferate without proper safety checks, particularly in "certain types of areas."
Aging Infrastructure: Many buildings in the city are old and structurally weak.
Monsoon Rains: Heavy monsoon rains, which often weaken foundations due to water seepage and structural fatigue, are also being considered as a potential contributing factor.
Concerns for Adjacent Buildings: Minister Kapil Mishra also warned that adjacent structures near the collapsed building in Welcome are vulnerable and could potentially collapse as debris is removed.
This incident follows closely on the heels of another tragic building collapse on July 11 in North Delhi's Azad Market area, which resulted in one confirmed death. That building was in the "influence zone" of Delhi Metro tunnelling work and had been declared unsafe and evacuated in advance.
The Delhi government has expressed condolences, and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has sought a report on the incident from the District Magistrate. This tragedy serves as a grim reminder of the urgent need for stringent urban planning, building safety reforms, and stricter enforcement of regulations in the rapidly urbanizing city.
