Tragedy Strikes: Building Collapse in Delhi's Satya Niketan Claims Lives of Students

Building Collapse in Delhi's Satya Niketan

New Delhi: A five-storey building, approximately 50 years old, collapsed in a narrow lane of Satya Niketan, close to Delhi University's South Campus, on Sunday afternoon. This tragic incident resulted in the deaths of two students, with many others feared trapped beneath the rubble, according to officials.

So far, eight individuals have been rescued from the debris, with one pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital and another succumbing to injuries during treatment. Five others are reported to be in critical condition, while one rescuer who sustained injuries has since been discharged, as per police reports.

Local residents estimate that between 40 to 50 individuals may still be trapped under the collapsed structure, which included a basement and five upper floors.

The building was undergoing repairs in its basement, which served as a paying guest accommodation, when it collapsed around 1:30 PM, according to a senior official.

Residents believe that water accumulation from recent rains weakened the building's foundation, leading to its collapse.

Rescue operations commenced promptly, involving teams from the Delhi Police, NDRF, Delhi Fire Service, and DDMA, along with fire engines and CATS ambulances.

The area is characterized by narrow, congested lanes filled with eateries and accommodations primarily catering to students.

A police officer confirmed that the structure was nearly half a century old.

The densely populated area, frequented by students, often leaves little room for movement. Many students residing in the vicinity hail from Keralam, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, attending colleges nearby.

As rescue teams worked tirelessly, locals joined the efforts, using their hands and available tools to search for those trapped beneath the debris.

"A total of six individuals have been rescued and transported to hospitals. Among them, two are in critical condition, and one was declared dead. A rescuer has been discharged," stated a source from AIIMS.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Lieutenant Governor Taranjeet Singh Sandhu, Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar, and MP Bansuri Swaraj arrived at the scene shortly after the incident.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed his condolences regarding the fatalities.

He mentioned that he had communicated with the chief minister, police commissioner, and NDMA director general to assess the situation on-site.

"The injured are receiving all necessary medical assistance. I pray for the swift recovery of all those affected," he posted on X.

The Joint Commissioner of Police, along with DCP Southwest and Additional DCP, are overseeing the rescue operations. The building, known as 'Hostel Daze,' is owned by an individual based in Gurugram.

The building's age has been confirmed to be nearly 50 years, according to officials.

An FIR is being registered, and multiple teams are actively searching for the building's owner.

"The precise number of individuals trapped or injured remains unknown at this time. Further updates will be provided as they become available," stated the Delhi Police.

Local residents indicated that the hostel was typically full, with 40 to 50 individuals potentially trapped under the debris.

"The narrow lanes make it challenging for rescue vehicles to access the site quickly," remarked a local resident.

Rajen Chhetri, a local affiliated with the Delhi Police, noted that the building contained around 15 rooms, with two to three students sharing each room.

"Most residents are from Keralam, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, studying primarily at Motilal Nehru College, Atma Ram Sanatan Dharm College, and Sri Venkateswara College. They paid approximately Rs 12,000 per bed," Chhetri explained.

"I have lived here for 20 years. Construction work was ongoing in the basement, where water had begun to accumulate. The foundation was also extremely weak," he added.

An eyewitness mentioned that the situation could have been far worse had the collapse occurred on a weekday, as many students had gone home for the weekend.

"Very few were present at the time," he noted.

Delhi has experienced continuous rainfall since Friday.

Residents also voiced concerns regarding the condition and upkeep of other buildings in the area, where numerous houses have been converted into PG accommodations.

Priyanka, a long-time resident, stated, "Buildings here are often constructed up to five or six floors. Many houses have been turned into boys' PGs, with owners relocating elsewhere. They simply label the properties as PGs, collect rent online, and leave without any follow-up."

She added, "I have never witnessed any maintenance work being conducted. Due to the rain, most students were indoors, while some had returned home for the weekend."

BJP MLA Anil Sharma, present at the scene, mentioned, "We are receiving calls from individuals trapped inside."

Authorities have advised locals and onlookers to maintain a safe distance from the site.

Paramilitary forces have been deployed to ensure that ambulances can move freely.