Two children among three killed as four-storey building collapses in Delhi’s Seemapuri

At least three people, including two children, were killed after a four-storey building collapsed in North East Delhi’s New Seemapuri on Wednesday afternoon (October 7, 2026). Eleven people have been pulled out from the debris so far even as operations are on to rescue a few people trapped in the rubble, said police.

The victims included a woman who was four months’ pregnant; police identified her as Gulafsa. The two children, one of whom was 12 years old, are yet to be identified.

The incident happened a month after a five-storey building collapsed at Satya Niketan, killing seven people.

North East Delhi District Magistrate Ajay Kumar said the structure collapsed between 3 p.m. and 3.15 p.m. “We immediately intimated all relevant authorities, including the NDRF, DDMA and MCD,” he said. Mr. Kumar said the rescued people included tenants in the building and some passersby. “From locals, we have found the adjacent building had some demolition work going on, which could have affected the strength of this building as well,” he said.

The Delhi Fire Service (DFS) despatched three water tenders and an Incident Response Team to the spot. Rescue squads located and contacted those trapped under the debris, with the NDRF deploying sniffer dogs.

“We have established contact with people trapped under the debris. We can hear them, and they will be rescued soon. It was a residential building on a plot of about 25 square yards. The collapse has also affected two adjoining buildings,” said Rajendra Prasad Meena, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Shahdara).

An official of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi said the building had developed a crack after tremors were felt in the national capital on Tuesday night following a 4.9-magnitude earthquake in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli.

“The crack was visible since last night. At the time of the collapse, two to three ragpickers were sitting next to the wall. They were affected by the collapse. A portion of the wall of the adjacent idgah has also come down,” he said.

The official said the building was at least 25 years old and occupied. The ragpickers caught under the debris are suspected to be from Rohingya community.

Traffic police issued an advisory for citizens to avoid areas around the collapse. “Traffic is affected around Seemapuri Gol Chakkar, DLF Bhopura and adjoining roads. Every clear lane gives way to an ambulance and rescue vehicle to pass through easily. Please avoid the area if possible. Do not stop, park or gather near the site and follow the directions of the traffic personnel,” the traffic police advisory said.