New Delhi, Sep 6: Following the collapse of a multi-storied building in Delhi Satya Niketan area, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) RK Puram MLA Anil Kumar Sharma said that several students who were residing in a Paying Guest accommodation within the structure, are trapped under the debris and that some of them are calling for help by making phone calls from beneath the rubble.

Delhi Police confirmed that two people have been rescued so far while maintaining that rescue operation is currently underway at the site.

Speaking to reporters at the site, BJP MLA Anil Kumar Sharma called it an “extremely tragic incident”.

“Nothing could be more heartbreaking than this. Children who came from various regions to study here and were residing in a PG accommodation…the building has collapsed,” he said.

Maintaining that exact figures of those trapped cannot be revealed at the moment, Sharma said: “Students are trapped underneath the debris, that is clear.”

“Just now, two children were pulled out, and teams from the disaster management forces, MCD, and the police department have rushed them to the hospital. Other children remain trapped inside,” he added.

The BJP leader further said, “Some of the children are even making phone calls from beneath the rubble. Several children are still trapped. Continuous rescue efforts are underway, and we are praying for their safety.”

Anil Sharma said that Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has dispatched the full emergency response team to the spot and that Delhi BJP chief and MP Harsh Malhotra, is in constant contact over the phone.

“The entire administration is deeply concerned and closely monitoring the situation. Our foremost and immediate priority is to rescue the children by all possible means,” he said.

Meanwhile, a local who rushed to site following the tragedy, said: “There was a PG inside the building. Four floors were constructed which collapsed. There are several students trapped inside, including women.”

Another local added: “We have learned that around 20 to 30 students are trapped inside. This happened around 11:30 to 11:45 AM.”

New Delhi, Sep 6: In a tragic incident, a building collapsed in south Delhi Satya Niketan area on Sunday, with several feared trapped in the debris, officials said.

The building collapsed near the Shiv Mandir at Satya Niketan in the Moti Bagh area.

The Delhi Fire Brigade said it was informed about the incident around 1:30 pm.

Officials said that around 1.50 pm, Station Officer (STO) Narender reached the scene and informed that a building had collapsed and some people were trapped under it. He asked for senior officers and more manpower.

Accordingly, an SWT, a Big Fire Tender (BFT), an Officer-in-Charge, DO Mukesh Verma and STO Manoj were sent to the incident site.

Delhi Police said that a rescue operation has been launched at the site. The number of people trapped will be confirmed later.

In a similar case reported last month, one person died and three people were left injured after a two-storey building collapsed while being demolished in the Karol Bagh area, officials said.

As per preliminary enquiry, the building was being demolished by a private contractor engaged by the owners.

Officials said that no permission for demolition had been obtained from the agency concerned.

The building had suddenly collapsed during the demolition work, trapping labourers working at the site.

According to officials, the incident was reported at Karol Bagh Police Station at around 11.15 a.m. from Pyare Lal Road at Regarpura in the area.

Upon receiving the information, police staff immediately reached the spot and initiated rescue efforts.

Police said that four labourers were injured in the incident. One of them, Sheikh Shamshad, succumbed to his injuries. His body was shifted to the mortuary at Lady Hardinge Medical College Hospital.

Among the other three injured workers, Md. Ayub sustained serious injuries, including a head injury and fracture of the right hand. He was referred to the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital and his condition is said to be critical.

While Sheikh Saidul sustained limb injuries and is undergoing treatment at Jeevan Mala Hospital, Rafik-Ul sustained minor injuries and subsequently left for his residence.

Police, along with fire services, carried out rescue operations and ensured that the injured persons were shifted to hospital for treatment.

The building owners and the contractor had been detained for enquiries.

New Delhi, Sep 6: Opposition leaders on Sunday took a jibe at Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat, saying that he “might have left some of his luggage in America” after the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) announced a ban on any Muslim participation in garba and dandiya events in Maharashtra.

The right-wing organisation has also called on organisers of the events to “verify and identify” the Hindu identity of participants.

The opposition’s jibe was in reference to the RSS chief’s remarks at the “One World, One Humanity” faith leaders’ conference in New York, where Bhagwat said that a Hindu who believes Muslims should have no place in India ceases to be a Hindu, asserting that Hindutva recognises the dignity of every human being and accepts different paths to the same truth.

Speaking to MEDIA, RJD MP Manoj Jha criticised Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis-led Maharashtra government, saying: “It seems Mr Fadnavis has outsourced governance, as though the VHP will now oversee administration.”

Referring to the RSS chief’s speech in New York, he remarked: “Probably he left some of his luggage in America and, along with it, all those things that he spoke there have also been left behind in that country. He should bring that luggage back and make his people understand.”

“Please don’t mess with the character of this country,” he added.

Shiv Sena-MP MP Sanjay Raut said: “Who says that Muslims cannot play Garba? People from the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, who have recently started presenting themselves as religious authorities, are making such statements.”

Terming the ‘Garba’ as a “tradition” of the country, Raut asserted that Muslims have also made a significant contribution to India’s freedom struggle and cultural history.

Echoing a similar view as the RJD MP, he said: “Mohan Bhagwat ji travels abroad and speaks about how there should be no differences between Hindus and Muslims in our country, whether political, cultural or religious. He even said that any Hindu who believes Muslims should be driven out of India ceases to be a Hindu…and here people linked to him are resorting to all these.”

Further, Raut urged the RSS chief to comment on the issue, saying: “Giving different statements in India and New York won’t work.”

Opposing the VHP’s move, Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy said: “This is completely communal. Garba is a cultural festival, and anyone can participate in it. We strongly condemn this ban on Garba.”