Building Collapse in Delhi’s Welcome Area Claims Six Lives, Eight Injured; Rescue Operations Continue
New Delhi, July 12 – In a tragic incident that shook northeast Delhi, a four-storey building collapsed in the Welcome area early Saturday morning, leaving six people dead, including a two-year-old child, and eight others injured. Officials confirmed that rescue operations are still underway to ensure no one remains trapped under the debris.
The deceased include the building’s owner Matlub (50), his wife Rabia (46), sons Javed (23) and Abdullah (15), along with Zubia (27) and her two-year-old daughter Fauzia. The family lived in the same building, while the ground and first floors were reportedly vacant.
According to a senior police official, the police received a call at 7:04 AM reporting the collapse of a building near Eidgah Road in Welcome. Upon arrival, police found that three of the building's four floors had already caved in. All missing persons were eventually pulled from the debris, though not all survived.
As per agency report, the injured include Matlub’s two other sons – Parvez (32), his wife Sija (21), their one-year-old son Ahmad, and another son Naved (19). Additionally, residents of the adjacent building – Govind (60), his brother Ravi Kashyap (27), and their respective spouses Deepa (56) and Jyoti (27) – were also injured and taken to the hospital.
Local resident Anees Ahmad Ansari, who sustained minor injuries, described the moment of the collapse, saying, “As the building fell, the debris hit our house too. Locals rushed in to help save the trapped family.”
The incident occurred when many locals were out for their morning walks. Many were among the first to assist in rescue efforts, pulling survivors out even before emergency services arrived. Seven fire tenders were dispatched to the site, according to Delhi Fire Services Chief Atul Garg.
Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Sandeep Lamba stated that the narrow bylanes in the densely populated JJ Cluster posed significant challenges for the rescue teams. The adjacent structure was also damaged due to the collapse.
Eyewitness Asma, a neighbor, told reporters that she heard a loud noise and was surrounded by dust when she stepped outside. “The building next door had collapsed completely,” she said, adding that a family of 10 lived there.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), along with police and fire officials, continues to operate at the site, searching for any remaining victims. The area has been cordoned off, and residents have been advised to avoid the lane until operations are complete.
Delhi MP Manoj Tiwari expressed grief over the incident on social media platform X, stating, “A building collapse in our Lok Sabha constituency’s Welcome area has led to casualties. Rescue operations are underway despite challenges due to narrow lanes. I’ve spoken to the officials and urge residents to stay away until the area is declared safe.”
Authorities are investigating the cause of the collapse, while the Delhi government is expected to assess structural risks in similar congested localities. The tragedy has once again raised concerns over illegal constructions and the urgent need for infrastructure safety checks in older residential neighborhoods.
