- Under-construction building collapsed in Old Delhi's Chawri Bazaar.
- Two confirmed dead, several injured or feared trapped.
- Police investigating unauthorized construction; builders are currently being sought.
Residents of Old Delhi’s Chawri Bazaar were jolted awake by a loud crashing sound on Thursday morning when a three-storey under-construction building collapsed, trapping construction workers beneath the debris. Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as people rushed out of their homes, fearing that their own buildings had also come crashing down.
At least two people were killed, and several others were injured or feared trapped following the collapse. Rescue teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Delhi Fire Services and local police rushed to the spot and launched an operation to search for those buried under the rubble.
An eyewitness, Mohammad Nayeem, said the collapse occurred at around 9 am to 9.30 am. "We were asleep when we heard a crashing sound. We all got up and rushed outside. We thought our own house was collapsing. When we checked, we realised it was the house being built next door," he said.
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#WATCH | Delhi: An eye-witness Mohd Nayeem says, "This happened around 9:00 or 9:30. We were asleep when we heard a crashing sound. We all got up and rushed outside. We thought our own house was collapsing. When we checked, we realized it was the house being built next door. Three or four lintels had already been cast, and they all collapsed at once. One of the injured laborers said there were about three or four people there. We saw a body being taken out. This building was under construction for the last 3-4 months..."
— ANI (@ANI) November 5, 2026
Nayeem added that three or four concrete slabs had already been cast before they collapsed together. He also recalled seeing a body being pulled out of the debris.
Another eyewitness, Mohammad Irfan, who lives next to the collapsed building, said construction had been underway for two to three months, and the third floor had recently been completed. He said workers were present inside when the structure suddenly gave way at around 9.35 am.
Delhi: Mohammad Irfan, a resident living next to the building that collapsed in Chawri Bazar, says, "The building had been under construction for the past two to three months, and the third floor had been completed. However, at around 9:35 am, the building suddenly collapsed. Some workers were inside and are still trapped. Two workers have been pulled out so far. One was seriously injured and was bleeding heavily, while the other was brought out dead. Several workers are still trapped, and rescue operations are underway. Around five workers were present at the site, but the exact number of people who may be trapped has not yet been confirmed..."
— IANS (@ians_india) November 5, 2026
"Some workers were inside and are still trapped. Two workers have been pulled out so far. One was seriously injured and was bleeding heavily, while the other was brought out dead," Irfan said, adding that the exact number of people trapped was not known.
A worker rescued from the site also described the moments before the collapse, saying the labourers were engaged in casting the concrete slab. He claimed that wooden supports beneath a portion where the slab had already been cast had started creaking. He said he alerted others that the supports appeared to be giving way and the slab could collapse.
Delhi: A worker rescued from the Chawri Bazar building collapse says, "...Two people have died. We do not know exactly how many people were there. This was slab-casting work. We were supposed to pour the concrete and leave. How could we have known that it would collapse?... One or two wooden supports had been placed under the portion where the slab had already been cast. The wooden supports started creaking, as if they were about to give way. Seeing this, I warned everyone that the supports were collapsing and the slab could fall..."
— IANS (@ians_india) November 5, 2026
Police Say 10-15 Labourers Were At The Site
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Rohit Rajbir Singh said the building was being constructed up to the third floor, with work underway on the floor above it. The structure collapsed while workers were pouring concrete for the slab.
“So far, three people have been rescued with the help of the NDRF team. The Fire Department has also arrived, and MCD personnel are here as well. Out of three rescued persons, two have been declared dead at the hospital, and one is injured but out of danger. Rescue operation is underway. The identity of the builders has been found out. We are currently looking for them. This unauthorised construction was going on here, and a letter had already been sent by us to the municipal agencies regarding it. We were following up on it, but the work had not been stopped yet. 10-15 labourers were present at the time of the incident. There is a possibility that there were more workers," Singh said.
#WATCH | Delhi: On Chawri Bazaar under construction building collapse, DCP Central Rohit Rajbir Singh says, "A building was being constructed here up to the third floor, and work was ongoing on the floor above that. During the pouring of the slab, the building collapsed. The building has caved in significantly, and the people in the surrounding buildings have been evacuated. The building next to the collapsed one is also in a precarious condition. So far, three people have been rescued with the help of the NDRF team. The Fire Department has also arrived, and MCD personnel are here as well. Out of three rescued persons, two have been declared dead at the hospital, and one is injured but out of danger. Rescue operation is underway. The identity of the builders has been found out. We are currently looking for them. This unauthorised construction was going on here, and a letter had already been sent by us to the municipal agencies regarding it. We were following up on it, but the work had not been stopped yet. 10-15 labourers were present at the time of the incident. There is a possibility that there were more workers."
— ANI (@ANI) November 5, 2026
The collapse also prompted questions from Aam Aadmi Party councillor from Chawri Bazaar, Rafia Mahi, who questioned how unauthorised construction was being allowed in the area. "Why is this entire builder mafia operating through the MCD zone?" she said.
Rescue Operation Underway
The Delhi Fire Services received a call about the collapse at around 9.50 am on Thursday. Six fire units, along with NDRF teams, Delhi Police personnel and MCD officials, were deployed at the site.
Authorities also evacuated people from nearby buildings as a precautionary measure. The DCP said the building adjacent to the collapsed structure was in a precarious condition.
The incident occurred in Gali Sattara, Sheesh Mahal, near Chawri Bazaar Metro station. The cause of the collapse is yet to be established, while rescue teams continue to search the debris for people who may still be trapped.
(With Agency Inputs)