A section of the 16th-century Humayun’s Tomb — widely regarded by archaeologists as the first major example of Mughal architecture in India — collapsed suddenly on Friday afternoon, leaving at least five people dead and several others trapped under debris.

The incident occurred around 4:30pm at the UNESCO World Heritage Site in southeast Delhi’s Nizamuddin East, when part of a dome gave way, according to police. Witnesses said between eight and nine people were caught beneath the rubble, with rescue teams still searching for survivors.

Delhi Fire Services told the Press that five bodies have been recovered so far, while fears remain that more victims are buried. Five fire engines and multiple disaster response units were deployed to the site.

The collapse happened on a public holiday, when the 450-year-old monument was teeming with visitors. “There were a lot of tourists inside at the time,” a police official told reporters.

Humayun’s Tomb, commissioned in 1562 by Hamida Banu Begum — the widow of the Mughal emperor — and designed by Persian architect Mirza Ghiyas, is celebrated as the first garden-tomb in the Mughal tradition. The red sandstone mausoleum not only influenced later Mughal structures, including the Taj Mahal, but also stands as a symbol of the dynasty’s cultural and architectural legacy.

The tomb houses the remains of Emperor Humayun, who ruled in two separate stints during the turbulent early years of the Mughal Empire. The emperor’s reign was interrupted after he lost Delhi to Afghan ruler Sher Shah Suri, forcing him into exile. Humayun eventually regained the throne but died in 1556, just a year after his return.

India’s Archaeological Survey, which manages the site, has not yet commented on the cause of the collapse. Conservationists have long warned that climate stress, urban pollution, and maintenance lapses could threaten the structural integrity of Delhi’s historic monuments.

The tragedy has raised urgent questions about the safety and preservation of India’s cultural heritage.