Delhi building collapse kills at least 3, media say

A building collapse in New Delhi killed at least three people on Sunday, Indian media reported, as rescuers worked to reach people trapped in the rubble.

The building, which housed mostly students, collapsed around midday in the Satya Niketan area of the Indian capital. Police and disaster response personnel used heavy machinery to lift rubble cautiously.

The Hindu newspaper and other Indian media, quoting unnamed fire services officials, reported that three people died. The reports said nine people were rescued, five of them in critical condition and taken to hospital.

The exact number of people feared trapped was not immediately known. An adjacent building was vacated because of fears it could also collapse.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the incident “distressing” and offered condolences to those who lost relatives, according to a statement from his office. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said she was “deeply concerned” and that every possible effort was being made to rescue those trapped and assist affected families.

Satya Niketan is home to many university students living in crowded privately owned accommodation. Building collapses are frequent in India, and illegal structures are common in large cities.