Portion of Humayun's Tomb in Delhi collapses, 8-9 people feared trapped

• A segment of the dome at Humayun’s Tomb in Delhi’s Nizamuddin area collapsed on Friday afternoon

• Authorities say eight to nine people are feared trapped under the debris

• The tomb is one of Delhi's most visited heritage sites, where annual footfall often reaches several hundred thousand

At approximately 4.30 pm on Friday, part of the dome of the historic Humayun’s Tomb collapsed, prompting immediate action from emergency services. As per the Delhi Fire Services, eight to nine individuals are feared trapped beneath the fallen structure. Five fire tenders were swiftly dispatched, and officials are currently coordinating rescue efforts on the site.

Humayun’s Tomb — a mid-16th-century mausoleum and a UNESCO World Heritage Site — is a major tourist draw. From April to July 2024 alone, it welcomed around 185,000 visitors, both Indian and foreign nationals, though this figure marked a slight decline from the approximately 207,000 visitors during the same period in 2023.

Over the course of a full year, the tomb attracts even larger crowds. Data from 2022–23 shows that it recorded 615,000 visits, a substantial rise compared to the 238,000 visits in 2021–22. These numbers highlight the monument’s enduring popularity, particularly among domestic travellers.

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The site has also undergone extensive restoration, conducted jointly by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC). Beginning in the late 1990s and continuing through the early 2000s, the programme included the revitalisation of its iconic Mughal garden, repair and replacement of degraded stonework, installation of a traditional water channel system, and removal of later cement additions that were compromising the structure’s integrity — such as a 40 cm thick cement layer from the 1920s, replaced with lime-based materials in 2009.

The collapse has raised immediate concern among heritage conservationists and authorities. No official statement has yet identified the cause, nor has any information been released about the structural condition of the remaining sections. Surveys and structural assessments are anticipated once rescue operations conclude.

This incident underlines the continued importance of rigorous, ongoing maintenance — even for monuments that have been recently restored. Despite concerted restoration efforts, the collapse raises pressing questions regarding the durability of such interventions and the challenges of preserving centuries-old architecture amid high visitor turnover.

With PTI inputs