Rescue operations end after Delhi building collapse kills seven

Indian rescuers pulled at least a dozen people out of the rubble of a collapsed building in New Delhi before ending operations on Monday, police said, a day after seven people were killed when the five-storey block crashed down.

"The rescue operations have been completed by the agencies," Delhi police said in a statement.

India's National Disaster Response Force said it had pulled 12 people from the site, six of whom were deceased. The All India Institute of Medical Sciences said one survivor was later pronounced dead at hospital.

Three people were reported in critical condition, Delhi police said.

Disaster agency teams, as well as fire and police units, used heavy machinery and sniffer dogs to locate those trapped.

The Satya Niketan area is home to hundreds of university students living in crowded accommodations. Building collapses are frequent in India, and illegal structures are common.

The owner of the building has been arrested, with several municipal officers suspended, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said.

"Delhi government has taken the matter with utmost seriousness," she said on X.

"Anyone found guilty or responsible will not be spared."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the incident was "distressing".