Delhi Building Collapse: PG Owner, Wife And Son Arrested; HC Holds DU, MCD Responsible Too

The JNP Trauma Centre recieved 10 patients who had suffered minor injuries from the building collapse. In a press statment AIIMS added that out of the 10, four were dead on arrival and one in critical state who later succumbed to his injuries.

Delhi Mayor Pravesh Wahi tweets, "The culprits of the Satya Niketan building incident in Delhi will not be spared under any circumstances. All illegal constructions with more than four floors will be immediately sealed, and strict action will be taken against the guilty officials, leading to their immediate dismissal. These orders will be implemented with immediate effect."

Upon arriving at the site of the building collapse in Delhi's Satya Niketan, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta is taking stock of the situation.

Satya Niketan building collapse | Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa says, "The NDRF team is continuously engaged in the operation. You can see that this situation involves a high degree of sensitivity because the building visible in the background is also 40–50 years old. It poses a major challenge for the NDRF to ensure no damage occurs to the adjacent building while clearing the debris from below and checking for any further casualties. However, the NDRF is a highly capable force; I have gathered information and spoken with the NDRF chief. The adjacent building will definitely be demolished—it has already been evacuated and is slated for demolition. But the challenge right now is that the structure is currently unstable; we do not yet know the condition beneath the accumulated debris, so it cannot be demolished immediately... The information received so far indicates that while this building was 40–50 years old, attempts were made to carry out work in its basement, which triggered this accident. The Chief Minister stated yesterday itself that strict action would be taken regarding the issues raised..." (ANI)

The administration installs iron jacks to support Buildings 12 and 13 following the building collapse in Satya Niketan area; MCD serves notices to four buildings. A total of 11 people have been rescued from the debris of a 50-year-old multi-storey building that collapsed in southwest Delhi's Satya Niketan area, with the death toll reaching six, an official said on Monday.

CCTV visuals capture the building collapse in Satya Niketan area that claimed six lives. An around 50-year-old five-storey building housing a boys' hostel in a congested bylane in Satya Niketan near Delhi University's South Campus collapsed on Sunday afternoon.

Police and dog squad deployed at the site as search and rescue operations continue in the Satya Niketan area following a building collapse that claimed six lives.

Prerna Bhardwaj, National Social Media Convenor, ABVP, says, "We have been here since yesterday. A building has collapsed in Satya Niketan, and students have died. A lot of students are still being rescued, and this is a very tragic thing that has happened. We are sitting here in solidarity. We had a protest yesterday at the MCD office as well, and we demanded the resignation of the MCD Commissioner. We are all sitting here, and we are demanding accountability. What is the actual standard of student safety on the campus? That is our question, and we are not standing up from here until the last student is rescued."

Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa says, "The NDRF continues the rescue operation, but the neighbouring 40-50-year-old pillar-less building, which is also in poor condition, is making the operation challenging. Columns are being erected underneath it to strengthen the structure. Until the entire site is cleared, efforts will have to continue to ensure that there are no further casualties in the debris. Responsibility will be fixed, with the Chief Minister making it clear that no one will be spared. So far, six deaths have been confirmed. A total of 12 people have been rescued, of whom six could not survive..."

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta says, "We are working with officials to draft a policy requiring buildings—whether 20, 30, or 40 years old—to submit a structural audit report and certify their safety. Without this, they will have no right to operate any public services or facilities—be it a PG accommodation, nursing home, school, or any other activity—on the premises. Strict regulations will be implemented in this regard. Furthermore, officials whose negligence led to this tragedy will not be spared; they will face immediate suspension... Strict instructions have been issued to all officials and the Municipal Corporation; no official involved will be spared. Suspension orders will be issued today itself. We stand fully with these students. We have given clear instructions to the Municipal Corporation to ensure that no student faces any hardship. We will provide all facilities on behalf of the government."

"Prima facie, this appears to be an accident... this particular house was old... Due to some negligence or a structural failure during this process, the entire building collapsed. Undoubtedly, the materials used in the construction were likely not of the quality required to sustain the structure, leading to the collapse," Delhi Mayor Pravesh Wahi said.

"Approximately 80 per cent of the debris has been cleared, with only the basement debris remaining. Water had accumulated in the basement, and the combination of this with ongoing repair work on the old structure led to the collapse. So far, 12 people have been rescued, of whom six have died and six are stable," Rekha Gupta Said.

"The Chief Minister has directed that action be taken against senior officials as well. Suspension orders will be issued against them today itself. Action will be taken against everyone responsible. Further, the Chief Minister has discussed the matter with the MCD Commissioner and the Mayor and decided that all public-use facilities, including hostels, PG accommodations and rooms in hospitals, will be required to have structural safety certificates," he said.

Uttar Pradesh minister Om Prakash Rajbhar says, "Certainly, strict action will be taken against the culprits. The building was very old, so the owner should have also obtained the order for its demolition..."

Delhi Mayor Pravesh Wahi says, "A campaign will be launched across Delhi, and anyone renting out a house to students will first have to obtain structural approval from the MCD. No one has the right to put someone else's children at risk... The building collapsed due to ongoing construction work in the basement and rainfall. This is certainly unfortunate. We will ensure that such incidents do not occur in the future."

An eyewitness Surjeet, says, "I am from Aryabhatta College. I believe the incident happened between 1:15 and 1:30 PM. Since I live in this area, I rushed over as soon as we heard about it... At that stage, there were no confirmed fatalities, though it was becoming clear who was trapped and who wasn't. We managed to pull out those who were accessible. Later, when the rescue team arrived after an hour or so, they took over, and we were asked to step aside. When the trapped victims were being rescued initially, they were alive. However, regarding those rescued an hour and a half or two hours later, the news that came in—or what was learned at the hospital—indicated fatalities... Then, cranes and JCBs arrived. As they started clearing the debris, everyone was moved aside. The police took charge and pushed the crowd back."

According to ANI, a lawyer on Monday mentioned the Satya Niketan building collapse matter before the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, seeking an urgent hearing in view of the gravity of the incident. The Chief Justice agreed to take up the matter for hearing today. The urgent mention comes against the backdrop of the tragic building collapse in Delhi’s Satya Niketan area, in which six people have reportedly died. The incident has raised serious concerns, and the matter has now reached the Delhi High Court for judicial consideration.

BJP MP Tarun Chugh says, "The loss of six lives in the tragic building collapse at Satya Niketan is deeply saddening and heartbreaking. Our deepest condolences are with the families of all those who lost their lives in the incident. It is difficult to even imagine the immense pain of the families who have lost their loved ones. Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this difficult time. We pray for the speedy recovery of those injured in the incident. Relief and rescue operations are underway at full pace. May God save everyone and ensure the safety and well-being of all."

Visuals from outside the residence of Hariram, the alleged owner of the building that collapsed in Delhi's Satya Niketan yesterday, claiming the lives of six people. Delhi Police has issued a Look Out Circular (LOC) against him.

The Delhi High Court allowed urgent listing of a PIL on the Satya Niketan building collapse that killed six people and injured several others. The matter was mentioned before Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia and will be listed for hearing during the day.

Students held a candle march in Satya Niketan after the building collapse, questioning the slow evacuation of those trapped under the debris and the lack of accountability. One student also said parents trust that their children will be safe when they send them there.

The notice was issued against Hari Ram as police continue efforts to trace those allegedly responsible for the collapse that killed six people. Police had earlier booked Hari Ram and others for culpable homicide, negligence in upkeep of a structure and endangering others’ safety. Rescue operations entered their second day on Monday, with 11 people rescued so far.

The NDRF said 12 victims have been taken out from the collapse site, but it does not have a specific figure for those still trapped. Rescue teams are using cutters, hydraulic jacks and canine teams to search for signs of life, with the operation expected to continue till late Monday.

The death toll in the Satya Niketan building collapse rose to seven after rescuers retrieved another body from the debris. Search and rescue operations are continuing at the site in south Delhi.

Saurabh Bharadwaj has alleged that BJP leaders have opened PGs using “black money” and demanded that the Chief Minister make public information on who owns which PG.

NDRF IG Narendra Singh Bundela said 11 people have been evacuated, with six declared dead and five hospitalised. He said one unconscious person has also been identified and rescuers are using canine teams and technical equipment to search the rubble.

SP Sharma, a neighbour of Hariram Bansal, said Bansal has lived in Gurugram for years and owns four or five properties there. Sharma said he had no idea whether Bansal owns a house in Satya Niketan, Delhi.

"We don't have the exact figures. A regular identification is conducted. In the last three months, 960 demolitions were carried out, 407 buildings were sealed, and notices were served to 1500 buildings for sealing and demolition. This is a regular process to take action against unauthorized construction," Khirwar told ANI.

MCD South Zone dy commissioner, four engineers suspended after Satya Niketan building collapse. The suspended officials are: Rakesh Kumar, Deputy Commissioner, South Zone; Ranvir Singh, SE, South Zone; Lalit Kumar Goel, EE (Bldg.), South Zone; Sunil Chauhan, AE (Bldg.), South Zone; Ashish Kumar, Junior Engineer (Bldg.)

The All India Institute Of Medical Sciences has released the list of the 12 patients it received after the building collapse in Satya Niketan.

18-year-old college student from Madhya Pradesh's Katni, Akshat, lost his life in the Satya Niketan building collapse Deceased Akshat's neighbour from Katni, Vijay Kumar Rajak, says, "Yesterday, we got information that the building Akshat resided in has collapsed. Immediately, we rushed to Delhi. Upon reaching here, we got to know that he had passed away. He wanted to become an IAS officer. He had returned to Delhi only two days ago, after Raksha Bandhan. I had spoken to him the day before yesterday. His body was identified by a scar on his leg. We are awaiting the PM (post-mortem) to be concluded."

According to ANI, the alleged owner of the building, Hariram, has been apprehended in Bhiwadi. Further examination is ongoing.

Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa says, "See, strongest action has been taken, 5 officials have been suspended, a clear message was given, any kind of illegal activities, violation of building bye-laws, there will be action. There was a meeting of the MLAs, the CM asked them for strict compliance. It will not be tolerated. A strict action was taken."

He says, "We stand with the students and their families. We still do not have any information about the workers. We hope this will be the last such accident. These incidents keep happening repeatedly, and the only reason for this is corruption. Corruption is the root cause. Therefore, whoever is responsible should be held accountable. This should be investigated... I have come here to extend support, and I stand with the families. But such incidents should not happen in the coming days. Therefore, there should be a proper inquiry into this."

Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar accused the BJP government of failing to ensure accountability after seven people died in the Satya Niketan PG collapse. The Congress demanded action against those responsible, affordable student accommodation, rent control for hostels and PGs, and Rs 1 crore compensation for the family of each person who died.

TMC Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghose accused the BJP-led governments at the Centre and in Delhi of a “total collapse” of everyday governance after seven people died in the Satya Niketan building collapse. She criticised the BJP’s “triple engine” government and said Delhi needs “less photo ops, more real work”.

MCD Standing Committee Chairperson Satya Sharma said several officials have been suspended in connection with the Satya Niketan building collapse and strict action will follow against others found involved. She said the MCD will survey old, dilapidated and dangerous buildings where people are still living or carrying out work.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the MCD’s Deputy Commissioner, Executive Engineer, Superintending Engineer, Assistant Engineer and Junior Engineer have been suspended with immediate effect. She said the building owner has been arrested, while buildings with unauthorised fifth floors will be sealed across Delhi and nearby PGs and buildings inspected.

The Delhi High Court said building owners were not the only ones responsible for the Satya Niketan tragedy, also holding the MCD and Delhi University responsible.

Delhi Minister Ashish Sood said the Satya Niketan incident was deeply tragic and said the MCD Deputy Commissioner, Superintendent Engineer and Executive Engineer were suspended for negligence. He said the government is taking steps to address infrastructure and institutional neglect, with safety and accountability as priorities.

The Delhi High Court asked authorities to double rescue efforts at the Satya Niketan collapse site so that human lives can be saved. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta assured the court that all possible steps are being taken to rescue lives.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the government is drafting a policy requiring structural audit reports and safety certification for old buildings used as PGs, nursing homes, schools and other commercial establishments. The move follows the Satya Niketan building collapse, but records show Delhi’s efforts to regulate paying-guest accommodation date back to at least 1993, with surveys, committees and proposals for registration and licensing over the years.

RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha said the shortage of hostels is forcing students to live in unsafe structures, noting that no new hostels have been built in the past several years. “We are fast becoming a nation of tragedies,” he said, urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address the hostel shortage and change the “entire work culture” around such incidents.

AISA demanded the resignations of Delhi CM Rekha Gupta and DU Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh, alleging failures in student housing and rescue operations. NSUI sought new DU hostels, rent control and PG inspections, while ABVP demanded an impartial inquiry, structural audits and action against those responsible for the collapse.

AAP Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj said student groups have demanded Delhi University hostels for decades, arguing that the shortage leaves students exposed to exploitation in informal PGs. He alleged that senior BJP politicians own a lot of PGs around Satya Niketan and questioned whether MCD officials or police can shut down properties owned by powerful politicians.

The Satya Niketan building collapse that killed seven people triggered a war of words between the BJP and AAP over their respective priorities. AAP targeted Union Home Minister Amit Shah over a party office inauguration in Goa, while the BJP hit back with the “Sheeshmahal” jibe against Arvind Kejriwal.

Seven people died and five others were injured in the building collapse at Delhi’s Satya Niketan area, Delhi Police said.

The deceased were identified as Abhishek, Yuvraj Soni, Pawan, Arpit Jahaj, Akshat Singh Yadav and Surinder Singh. One victim remains unidentified.

The injured have been identified as Asgar Ali, Neeraj Bawa, Aditya Kumar, Nitish Chib and Md Ayan.

Congress MP Manoj Kumar on Monday expressed condolences to the families of those killed in the Satya Niketan building collapse and criticised the civic administration’s response.

Kumar said similar incidents, including hotel fires, had occurred in the past but alleged that MCD officials and the Chief Minister responded only after such tragedies.

He said the authorities need to act proactively to prevent such incidents rather than responding after lives are lost.

A meeting began at the LG Secretariat on Monday following the building collapse in Delhi’s Satya Niketan area that claimed seven lives.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, NDRF chief Piyush Anand, Delhi Police Commissioner, Education Secretary, Delhi University Vice-Chancellor and MCD Commissioner attended the meeting.

DUSU president Aryan Maan on Monday said around 17 students were admitted to hospitals following the Satya Niketan building collapse, with five reported dead. Maan said student groups were in touch with the affected families and helping parents who had been calling for information and assistance.

He also said the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad had protested outside the MCD commissioner’s office on Sunday and given the commissioner 24 hours to resign.

Maan said 14 hours had passed and demanded that the MCD commissioner resign at the earliest. He also welcomed the suspension of five MCD officials following the collapse.

The family of 18-year-old Arpit Jai, who died in the Satya Niketan PG collapse in Delhi, decided to donate his corneas. A native of Dewas, Madhya Pradesh, Arpit had recently returned to his accommodation after the Rakshabandhan holidays. His family later identified his body at AIIMS.

The Delhi High Court on Monday termed the Satya Niketan building collapse that killed several people and injured many others as “most unfortunate”.

A bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia said responsibility for the tragedy extended beyond the building owners to the MCD and Delhi University. The court noted that inadequate housing facilities for outstation students force many to depend on private PG accommodation.

The court directed authorities to intensify rescue operations and make every effort to save lives. It asked the authorities to file separate replies to a PIL within 10 days and listed the matter for further hearing on September 25.

Rescue and relief operations by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) at the Satya Niketan building collapse site in Delhi have concluded, NDRF IG NS Bundela said.

The NDRF had been carrying out rescue operations at the site after the building housing a paying guest accommodation collapsed while repair work was underway. The incident claimed several lives and left others injured.

Delhi Police have arrested three people in connection with the Satya Niketan building collapse, according to police.

The arrested persons have been identified as Hariram Gupta, his wife Urmila and their son Mahesh.

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) chief spokesperson Saurav Das on Monday alleged that a nexus involving illegal PGs and political patronage needs to be investigated following the Satya Niketan building collapse.

Das claimed the MCD had previously declared the building unsafe but alleged that construction continued and students were not evacuated. He demanded an investigation into the building owner’s alleged political connections and the wider PG network operating in the area.

He also criticised the government’s response to young people seeking accountability, saying students demanding answers were being labelled as “Naraz Fufa” and “Dimagi Naxals”. Das said CJP workers had been at the site since Sunday and were providing assistance to affected families within their limited resources.

A family in Chhattisgarh’s Durg district lost its only son after 20-year-old student Yuvraj Soni died in the Satya Niketan building collapse in Delhi.

Yuvraj had returned to Delhi on August 31 after celebrating Raksha Bandhan with his family. He was pursuing his studies in the national capital.

Durg Additional Superintendent of Police Manishankar Chandra confirmed Yuvraj’s death and said his relatives had been informed. The district administration also assured the family of all possible assistance.

Cockroach Janta Party spokesperson Saurav Das criticised the government over the Satya Niketan building collapse and questioned the treatment of young people demanding accountability.

Das said those in power had “forced the youth to live like cockroaches” and called it shameful that people demanding answers over deaths were labelled “naraz fufa” and “dimagi naxal”.

Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee president Devender Yadav blamed the BJP-led administration for the collapse of the five-storey PG building in southwest Delhi’s Satya Niketan.

He questioned who allowed repair work in the basement of the 50-year-old building after it was flooded with water and alleged that the incident was a case of administrative negligence and corruption.

The Delhi government’s plan to introduce a new safety policy for paying-guest accommodations has brought the regulation of PGs back into focus following the Satya Niketan building collapse.

However, efforts to regulate PG accommodation in the national capital are not new. The government has been attempting to frame rules for the sector for more than three decades, with the first such efforts dating back to 1993.

Delhi University’s South Campus remained largely deserted on Monday as colleges stayed closed following the Satya Niketan PG building collapse that claimed seven lives.

Rescue operations continued for a second day as authorities searched the debris and assessed the damage. The tragedy also triggered protests by students and political groups demanding accountability and action against those responsible for the collapse.

Delhi Minister Ashish Sood on Monday hit out at the Aam Aadmi Party over the Satya Niketan building collapse while saying the government’s immediate focus should be on safety and accountability.

Sood called AAP leaders “self-proclaimed unemployed politicians” and said he did not want to engage in a blame game over the deaths.

He said the priority was to ensure the safety of students, fix the “rotten system” built over the past 27 years and deliver good governance.

Sood also said the government would focus on the immediate steps needed to prevent such tragedies rather than indulging in political finger-pointing.

The Aam Aadmi Party held a candlelight protest in Delhi on Monday over the Satya Niketan building collapse that claimed seven lives.

AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj said the Central Government should build more hostels at Delhi University to address the shortage of student accommodation.

Bharadwaj alleged that the shortage had allowed a “PG mafia” to flourish and questioned whether BJP leaders were linked to the network.

He also demanded that Chief Minister Rekha Gupta make public the names of PG owners operating in the area and questioned why the MCD had not acted against them.

Union Minister of State and Delhi BJP president Harsh Malhotra said responsibility for unauthorised construction at Satya Niketan should extend beyond junior officials.

He said senior officers must also be held accountable and noted that action had reached the deputy commissioner level. Malhotra called for stricter monitoring of dangerous buildings and construction violations.

DCP South Abhimanyu Poswal said renovation work in the basement triggered the Satya Niketan building collapse and confirmed that rescue operations at the site have been completed.