A tragic building collapse in Delhi's Satya Niketan area has claimed seven lives, while rescue and search operations continued on Monday to check whether anyone else remained trapped under the debris.
The five-storey building, known as 'Hostel Daze', was being used as a boys' paying guest accommodation and housed students studying at colleges around Delhi University's South Campus. The structure, located opposite Sri Venkateswara College, collapsed around 1:30 pm on Sunday while repair and renovation work was reportedly underway in the basement.
According to officials, 12 people were rescued from the debris, of whom seven died, while the injured were taken to hospitals for treatment. Rescue teams from the National Disaster Response Force, Delhi Fire Service, Delhi Police and other agencies continued operations at the site using heavy machinery, specialised equipment and sniffer dogs.
In a major development on Monday, Delhi Police arrested the alleged owner of the building, Hariram Bansal, from Bhiwadi in Rajasthan, around 25 hours after the collapse. Police had launched a multi-state search operation involving 10 teams to trace him after he became untraceable.
An FIR had been registered against Bansal and others in connection with the incident, and a Look Out Circular was issued against him and his family members. He has been booked under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to culpable homicide not amounting to murder, negligence during construction or repair of buildings and acts endangering life or personal safety.
Authorities are investigating whether repair work, the condition of the decades-old structure and water accumulation in the basement contributed to the collapse. The investigation will also examine whether any structural or safety norms were violated.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has ordered a magisterial inquiry and assured that strict action would be taken against those found responsible. She also directed officials to intensify inspections of buildings being used as PG accommodations and other public-use facilities.
The Delhi government is working with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi on a policy that would make periodic structural audits and safety certifications mandatory for PG accommodations, nursing homes, schools and other establishments.
The MCD has also suspended five South Zone officials following the incident, including the Deputy Commissioner, Superintending Engineer, Executive Engineer, Assistant Engineer and Junior Engineer. Officials have been directed to inspect similar structures and take action against buildings found violating safety norms.
The tragedy has also triggered protests, with members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad staging a demonstration at the MCD headquarters and demanding accountability, including the resignation of the civic body's commissioner. The organisation has also sought safety audits of PG accommodations across Delhi.
Meanwhile, residents and students in the area have raised concerns over the condition of several buildings, with some alleging that structures in the locality have cracks and other safety issues. Authorities have also been carrying out inspections and evacuating people from unsafe structures.
The incident has renewed concerns over the safety of student accommodations in Delhi, particularly in densely populated areas around university campuses, and raised questions over compliance with building and structural safety norms.
