The Chawri Bazaar building collapse in Old Delhi killed at least two people on Thursday morning, with several labourers feared trapped under the debris.
The three-storey structure was under construction in a narrow lane in the congested market locality. Police said a rescue operation was underway to locate and pull out those trapped beneath concrete slabs, wires and other debris.
A local resident said the building collapsed at around 9.35 am. He rushed to the site after hearing the crash and found the structure reduced to rubble.
Two people pulled out, more workers feared trapped
A resident said two people had been pulled out of the debris. One was severely injured and bleeding heavily, while the other was found dead.
Both were labourers, he said. The resident estimated that five to six more workers could be trapped under the rubble.
Another local resident said he reached the market around 10.30 am and witnessed rescue teams pulling out a person. He also saw a body being taken away in an ambulance.
Police confirmed that at least two people had died. More people are feared trapped, and the rescue operation was continuing.
Construction had been underway for three months
According to a local resident, construction work at the site had been underway for around three months. The third floor had reportedly been completed recently, but work had stopped two days before the collapse.
The resident said the property was owned by four brothers.
The cause of the collapse has not yet been established.
Authorities restrict access amid safety concerns
Police and other rescue teams reached the site and began operations to search for people trapped under the debris.
Authorities have restricted public access to the area amid concerns that an adjoining building could also be structurally unstable.
The rescue operation is focused on locating survivors and clearing the debris from the congested lane. The number of people trapped remains unclear.
