Illegal Structure Crashes in Saidulajab, Leaving Students and Local Residents Buried Under Debris
A tragic building collapse in South Delhi’s Saidulajab claimed six lives, including two young doctors preparing for the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE), on Saturday night. What began as a routine evening of tea, meals, and conversations among students quickly turned into a disaster when an allegedly illegal structure collapsed, trapping several people under the debris.
The victims included competitive exam aspirants, medical graduates, and a local canteen owner. Rescue teams worked through the night and into Sunday to recover those trapped beneath the rubble.
Two Young Doctors Lose Their Lives
Among the deceased were two FMGE aspirants aged 26 and 24, both of whom had completed their MBBS degrees from universities in Kyrgyzstan and were preparing for the licensing examination scheduled for June 28.
One of the victims, originally from Uttar Pradesh’s Gonda district, had been living in Saidulajab for the past one-and-a-half years. According to his family, his father, a farmer, had taken loans to fund his medical education abroad. Friends said he was optimistic about clearing the FMGE and had plans to travel with fellow aspirants after the examination.
His roommate, who is also preparing for the FMGE, said the victim and several friends had gone to a nearby mess for tea shortly before the building collapsed.
Rajasthan Doctor Among Victims
Another victim, a young doctor from Rajasthan’s Alwar district, was also residing in the area while preparing for the FMGE. Police said her body was recovered from the debris nearly 19 hours after the collapse.
Her family revealed that they had spoken to her shortly before the incident and were unaware of any potential danger. After receiving information about the collapse, they immediately rushed to Delhi. She is survived by her parents and two younger sisters.
MCD Takes Action Against Officials
Following the tragedy, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) suspended two engineers responsible for the area, citing negligence and dereliction of duty. Authorities are investigating whether lapses in monitoring illegal constructions contributed to the collapse.
Building Owner Detained, FIR Registered
Police have detained the building owner and registered an FIR in connection with the incident. Investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding the construction and structural stability of the building.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta visited the site on Sunday to review the ongoing rescue and recovery operations. She assured that strict action would be taken against those found responsible for the tragedy.
Investigation Underway
Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the collapse while families mourn the loss of young lives filled with aspirations and dreams. The incident has once again raised serious concerns about illegal constructions and building safety standards in the national capital.
