Six dead in the collapse of a building under construction in New Delhi

Search operations continued Monday in Satya Niketan, in southern New Delhi, the day after a five-story building collapsed. Firefighters, police, and rescue teams were still trying to locate possible victims under the rubble.

The official death toll released by Indian authorities stands at six. The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), one of the country's leading public hospitals, reported treating ten victims.

"Of the ten, five had already died upon arrival at the hospital, while another, who was in critical condition, succumbed to his injuries," AIIMS said in a statement.

Work is currently underway in the basement.

The building collapsed on Sunday, September 6, in this area near the southern campus of Delhi University, where several hundred students live, often in densely occupied housing.

According to initial findings, work was underway in the building's basement at the time of the collapse. Authorities are now trying to determine whether this work may have affected the structure's stability.

At this stage, no definitive cause has been established. The investigations must, in particular, determine the exact nature of the work, its compliance with regulations, and the structural condition of the building before its collapse.

Searches conducted with machinery and dogs

Rescue teams are continuing to clear the site using heavy machinery. Sniffer dogs have also been deployed to search for any people who may still be trapped in the rubble.

These operations are made particularly delicate by the instability of the rubble and the need to progress without endangering victims who may still be alive, or the teams engaged on the ground.

The security of student buildings is in question

The tragedy has brought back into focus the housing conditions in the Satya Niketan district, which has a large student population. Many young people live in buildings converted into communal and sometimes overcrowded accommodations.

Building collapses remain a recurring problem in India, where illegal construction is commonplace. Construction work carried out without sufficient oversight, modifications to existing structures, and the condition of some buildings are regular sources of concern for local authorities.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the collapse as "devastating." He offered his condolences to the families of the victims and stated that authorities were continuing to respond to the site and provide assistance to those affected.