Three labourers trapped in swamped Vasant Vihar site in south Delhi

The two-storey basement, which was dug up for nearly 20 feet, was covered with at least 10-feet of water, slush, collapsed parts of temporary structures and a couple of trees, they added.

A search and rescue operation began soon after they were informed about the mishap. Even after a 15-hour operation by multiple agencies, including police, fire department, national disaster response force (NDRF) and municipal corporation of Delhi (MCD), the rainwater, mud slush and other materials could not be cleared, the officers said.

There were no signs of the labourers trapped inside the basement till the time of filing of the report.