New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the collapse of a five-storey building being used as a boys’ PG in south Delhi’s Satya Niketan. The incident claimed five lives.
After visiting the site and reviewing the situation, Gupta directed officials to register an FIR against the building owner. She said a preliminary assessment indicated that the structure was old and that excavation and repair work was underway in the basement. A pillar reportedly shifted during the work, causing the building to collapse.
Rescue operations continued at the site, with teams working to locate and evacuate those trapped under the debris. Gupta also visited the AIIMS Trauma Centre to meet injured students and directed doctors to ensure they received the best possible treatment. She said 11 people had been rescued safely so far.
The chief minister said no one responsible for the incident would be spared, whether the person was the building owner or an official, and assured that strict action would be taken under the law.
Students and locals join rescue efforts
The collapse, which occurred at around 1.30 pm, brought students and local residents rushing into the narrow lane near Delhi University’s South Campus. Before rescue agencies could fully begin operations, students and residents started clearing debris with their hands in an effort to reach those trapped inside.
Abhishek Mishra, a first-year student at Delhi University’s Faculty of Law who was near the building, recalled hearing a loud rumbling sound before the structure came down.
“We heard a very loud rumbling sound and suddenly the chairs we were sitting on started shaking. It felt like an earthquake,” he said.
Mishra said students and local residents immediately rushed towards the collapsed building and began removing debris together. They formed a human chain to pass smaller pieces of rubble from one person to another.
Plates, plastic bottles, broken pipes, toilet fittings, concrete pieces and twisted iron rods were among the debris removed manually. JCB machines were later brought in to clear the heavier rubble, while students continued helping with sections that could not be safely removed by machines.
“I knew several students who were living there. That is why students from the surrounding area immediately came out when the building collapsed. Nobody waited for someone to tell them what to do. People simply started helping,” Mishra said.
Students raise concerns over PG safety
The incident has also raised concerns among students over the safety of PG accommodations in Satya Niketan.
Some students said the building was very old but was painted every year before the start of the academic session, giving parents and others the impression that it was relatively new and well maintained.
They also alleged that inspections of such buildings were rarely carried out, highlighting concerns over the safety standards of student accommodation in the area.
