New Delhi: Rescue operations at the site of the Satya Niketan building collapse in south Delhi concluded on Monday after multiple agencies worked through the night to evacuate people trapped under the debris.
According to Delhi Police, five people were rescued and rushed to nearby hospitals, while the death toll in the incident rose to seven.
The injured have been identified as Asgar Ali, 30, Neeraj Bawa, 19, Aditya Kumar, 19, Nitish Chib, 19, and Md. Ayan, 18. Officials said all five are undergoing treatment, with three of them in critical condition.
Authorities said 12 people were admitted to hospitals following the collapse of the five-storey building, which was being used as a paying guest accommodation for students.
Seven people, including an unidentified man, succumbed to their injuries. The deceased were identified as Abhishek, 20, a resident of Sonbhadra in Uttar Pradesh, Yuvraj Soni, 20, of Durg in Chhattisgarh; Pawan, 17, from Auraiya in Uttar Pradesh, Arpit Jahaj, 19, of Dewas in Madhya Pradesh, Akshat Singh Yadav,18, of Katni in Madhya Pradesh; and Surinder Singh, 75, a labourer. The identity of one deceased person is yet to be established.
Most of the victims were students residing in the Satya Niketan area, known for its large concentration of coaching centres and student accommodations.
Officials said the cause of the collapse is under investigation. Rescue and relief operations were carried out by multiple emergency response agencies.
Meanwhile, Delhi Police on Monday arrested the owner of the collapsed building, Hariram Bansal, from Bhiwadi in Rajasthan after he allegedly went absconding following the incident.
Bansal was apprehended hours after police issued a Look Out Circular (LOC) against him as investigations into the tragedy gathered pace.
Earlier in the day, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) suspended five of its employees in connection with the deadly collapse.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, meanwhile, vowed not to spare anyone found guilty.
(IANS)
