Dozens feared trapped in collapsed building in Delhi

Figure caption, Rescuers race to free people trapped after building collapse in Delhi.

A residential building in the Indian capital Delhi has collapsed with dozens of students feared trapped inside.

Eyewitnesses told local media that as many as 50 people were inside the five-storey building in the Satya Niketan neighbourhood of south-west Delhi when it came down around 13:30 local time (08:00 GMT) on Sunday.

Pelo menos uma pessoa foi morta e outras duas estão em estado crítico, relata a NDTV, citando a polícia local. Seis pessoas foram resgatadas até agora.

There had been construction work going on in the basement of the building, Hostel Daze, which sits a short distance from the Delhi University campus.

Fonte da imagem, Reuters. Muitos dos estudantes que permaneciam lá eram considerados estar em seus quartos no momento do colapso, pois não havia aulas no domingo.

A legislative assembly member said at the scene that some of the trapped students had been making calls from under the rubble.

Eyewitnesses told local media that another building beside the hostel had also collapsed.

O Chefe do Governo de Delhi, Rekha Gupta, disse que um prédio adjacente havia sido evacuado “como medida de precaução”.

Every possible effort is being made to safely rescue those trapped," she added.

A Polícia de Delhi disse que o prédio tinha apenas 40 ou 50 anos.

The owner of a nearby shop told news agency ANI that it was under a 100-year lease and that the leaseholder had undertaken excavation work in the basement to increase their income.

They strengthened the upper building, but the pillars below were weak," he said, noting that the construction workers had also been buried.

A National Students' Union of India pediu ao governo que investigue a causa do colapso e responsabilize quem for encontrado responsável.

Negligence with the safety of students and common people will not be tolerated at any cost," it said.

Police are searching for the owner of the building, Times of India reports.