Saket Building Collapse Shatters Aspirants’ Dreams, Six Killed

What was meant to be a joyful gathering among a group of students preparing for competitive examinations ended in heartbreak after a multi-storey commercial building collapsed near Saket Metro Station in south Delhi on Saturday evening, killing at least six people and leaving several others injured.

The building, located on Western Marg in the Saidulajab area, came crashing down at around 7.30 pm, sending tonnes of debris onto an adjoining tin-shed canteen that was popular among students and young professionals in the locality. The area is known for its concentration of coaching institutes, libraries, cafes and paying guest accommodations catering to aspirants preparing for examinations such as GATE, NEET and FMGE.

Among those who lost their lives was Kapil (28) , an aspirant for the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) . According to friends, Kapil had invited a small group to celebrate after performing well in an interview for a position at the prestigious institution. The results of the recruitment process are expected in July.

Kapil was joined by five friends, including Nalin Ray (23) from Bihar's Nawada district, who had recently completed his BTech and was preparing for the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE). Moments after the group gathered at the canteen, the building collapsed, trapping them beneath the rubble.

Family members said Nalin had spoken to relatives earlier in the day and was planning to return home during an upcoming break. His uncle, Baikunth Nath, rushed to the site after receiving a call from friends informing him about the collapse. Nalin's body was later recovered and taken to the AIIMS Trauma Centre, where he was declared brought dead.

Another victim, Ravi (24) , reportedly suffered fatal injuries when an iron rod pierced his chest during the collapse.

The tragedy also claimed the life of Ekta (24) , a Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) graduate from Rajasthan's Alwar district. She had been living in Delhi for nearly a year while preparing for the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) scheduled for June 28.

Her father, Ramesh Chand , travelled overnight to Delhi after fellow students informed him that his daughter had gone missing following the incident. After nearly a day of anxious waiting near the debris, his worst fears were confirmed when rescue personnel recovered her body on Sunday.

According to family members, Ekta had appeared for a test on Saturday morning and was delighted with her performance. She had spoken to relatives twice during the afternoon and was looking forward to her upcoming examination and her 25th birthday later this month.

Eyewitnesses described hearing cracking sounds moments before the structure gave way. Several students in nearby buildings reported feeling vibrations and tremors before panic spread through the area.

Residents alleged that construction work had been underway on the upper floors of the building and claimed portions of the structure appeared to be newly built. Some locals also said they helped rescue several trapped individuals before specialised teams arrived.

A massive rescue operation involving the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) , Delhi Fire Services , Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) , Delhi Police and local volunteers continued through the night. Rescue teams deployed heavy machinery, hydraulic cutters, victim-location cameras and sniffer dogs to search through the debris.

Authorities have registered a criminal case and ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident. The exact cause of the collapse is yet to be determined.