2 dead, 8 injured in 4-storey building collapse in Delhi; rescue ops underway
New Delhi (PTI): Two people died and eight, including a one-year-old baby, were injured when a four-storey building collapsed in the Welcome area of northeast Delhi on Saturday morning, with a few still feared to be trapped under the rubble, officials said.
People who were trapped in the rubble include 10 members of a family who lived in the building and a few others who were near it, they said.
The Delhi Fire Services said a man and a woman were found dead after they were pulled out of the debris and their bodies were sent to GTB Hospital.
Eight people have been rushed to a hospital for treatment, while attempts to rescue others who may still be trapped in the debris are still underway.
A senior police officer said, "Around 7.04 am on Saturday, we received information at Welcome Police Station regarding the collapse of a four-storey building near Idgah, Welcome.
When the police team reached the spot, they found that three storeys of the building had collapsed."
"So far, eight injured persons have been rescued -- seven have been shifted to JPC Hospital and one to GTB Hospital for treatment," he added.
Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Northeast) Sandeep Lamba said, "The owner of the building, Matloob, resides in the building with his family members. The ground floor and first floor are unoccupied. The building opposite also sustained damage."
Parvez (32), his wife Siza (21), his son Ahmad (14 months), and his brother Naved (19), who were in the building when it collapsed, have been rescued.
Govind (60) and his brother Ravi Kashyap (27) and their wives Deepa (56) and Jyoti (27), who were outside the building, also sustained injuries and were sent for treatment at a hospital.
Anees Ahmad Ansari, who lives in the building opposite the building that collapsed, said he too sustained injuries in the incident.
"As the building collapsed, the rubble hit our building and I also got injured. Everyone, including locals, is busy trying to rescue the family. We hope that they are safe," he said.
The building collapsed when locals were out on their morning walks, many of whom acted as first responders and began trying to rescue those trapped before fire officials arrived at the spot.
Seven fire tenders rushed to the site at Gali No. 5 at Janta Colony close to Idgah road in Seelampur for rescue operations, Delhi Fire Service chief Atul Garg said.
Asma, who lives in the neighbourhood, told PTI, "Around 7 am, I was in my house when I heard a loud noise and there was dust all over. When I came down, I saw that our neighbour's home has collapsed."
"We don't know how many are trapped but a family of 10 people lives there," she said.
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Op Sindoor paused as politico-military objective achieved; no pressure to stop: Rajnath in LS
New Delhi (PTI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said in the Lok Sabha that Operation Sindoor was "paused" as the armed forces had achieved the desired politico-military objectives and asserted that there was "no pressure" to end it.
If Pakistan indulges in fresh misadventure, it will resume again, the minister said in his opening remarks on the special debate on Pahalgam terror strikes and Operation Sindoor in the lower house.
He said the armed forces are ever vigilant to defend India's borders and the military operation was an effective and well-coordinated strike against nine terror sites.
Seven terror camps were fully destroyed and India has proof of the damage incurred inside PoK and Pakistan, Singh told the House.
The entire operation was over in 22 minutes and the Pahalgam killings were avenged. The attacks, he asserted, were non-escalatory in nature.
"Before executing Operation Sindoor, our forces studied every aspect and chose the option that would cause maximum damage to terrorists while ensuring no harm to innocent civilians," Singh said.
He underlined that to say or believe that Operation Sindoor was stopped under any pressure is baseless and completely incorrect.
It was the director general of Pakistan's director general of military operation who requested his Indian counterpart to end the strikes.
Singh's statement comes against the backdrop of US President Donald TRump's 'ceasefire' claims.
The minister said the objective was not to cross borders or take over territory but to target terrorist camps, their supporters and to destroy them. He asserted that no innocent civilian was targeted in the military strikes.
Pakistan could not hit our targets and there was no damage to any of our important assets, he noted. He pointed out that India managed to get proof of the damages incurred in PoK and Pakistan.
"Operation Sindoor symbol of our strength... demonstrated that India will not remain silent if anyone harms its citizens," Singh said.
India first extends hand of friendship, but it also knows how to twist the wrist if any country betrays it, he said.
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