The deceased include a 12-year-old girl, 21-year-old Gulafsa, who was around four months pregnant, and another child whose identity is yet to be established.

DCP Rajendra Prasad Meena said one of the children was decapitated in the collapse.

Eight rescued, taken to hospital

Eight people were rescued from the debris and taken to Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital in Tahirpur for treatment.

The injured have been identified as Momin Mirja, 56, Abdaan, 3, Abdul Rehman, 28, Devruddin, 28, Salma, 50, Chote, 34, Sakina, 35, and Samad, 30.

The Delhi Fire Service received a call about the building collapse at around 3:30 pm and rushed fire engines and rescue teams to the spot. The search and rescue operation remains underway.

Locals used bare hands to rescue trapped people

Visuals from the site showed large sections of the building reduced to rubble, with residents attempting to clear debris with their bare hands as rescue efforts continued.

A local resident claimed that several people were rescued by residents even before emergency teams arrived, with some taken to nearby hospitals.

Traffic advisory issued

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

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

Authorities have asked people not to stop, park or gather near the site and to follow directions from traffic personnel.

Earthquake link being probed

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

Officials, however, have not established a link between the earthquake and the building collapse. The exact cause will be determined following an investigation.

The incident comes about a month after a hostel tragedy in Satya Niketan, where seven people were killed and several others injured.