DCP Rajendra Prasad Meena said the child was decapitated in the collapse.

The Delhi Fire Service (DFS) received a call about the incident at around 3:30 pm and rushed fire engines to the spot. “Search and rescue operation is ongoing,” a fire service official said.

Locals join rescue efforts

Visuals from the site showed large portions of the building reduced to rubble, with scores of people gathered around the area.

Locals were seen using their bare hands to move concrete slabs and debris in an effort to reach those trapped underneath.

A local resident said several people were initially rescued by residents and rushed to nearby hospitals.

Traffic disrupted near Seemapuri

The Delhi Traffic Police urged people to avoid the area to ensure ambulances and rescue vehicles can move quickly.

Traffic was affected around Seemapuri Gol Chakkar, DLF Bhopura and adjoining roads.

The police appealed to people not to stop, park or gather near the site and to follow directions from traffic personnel.

Possible link to Delhi-NCR tremors

Locals claimed the building had developed cracks after tremors were felt across Delhi-NCR following an earthquake in Uttarakhand on Tuesday night.

Officials, however, said it was too early to establish whether the tremors had any role in the collapse. The exact cause will be determined after a detailed investigation.

The incident comes a month after a hostel tragedy in Delhi’s Satya Niketan area in which seven people were killed and several others injured.