- Five-Storey Student Hostel Crumbles in Satya Niketan; Safety Concerns Raised Over Renovation Work
NEW DELHI: At least six people were killed and six others injured after a five-storey building housing a boys’ hostel collapsed in the Indian capital on Sunday, triggering a major rescue operation as authorities worked to locate and evacuate anyone still trapped beneath the rubble.
The incident occurred in the southwestern Satya Niketan area, a locality known for accommodating large numbers of students. Police, disaster-response teams and emergency personnel rushed to the scene, deploying heavy machinery and sniffer dogs to search through the debris.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said 12 people had been rescued from the collapsed structure, while six fatalities were confirmed and six injured victims were taken for medical treatment. By Monday, rescue teams had cleared approximately 80 percent of the rubble, although debris remained in parts of the basement.
The building, reportedly more than 55 years old, had been undergoing renovation before reopening to tenants, primarily students, in August despite work reportedly remaining incomplete.
Residents said labourers had been working in the basement when the structure collapsed, raising concerns that ongoing renovation work, combined with water accumulation, may have weakened the building and contributed to the disaster.
Government Moves to Strengthen Building Safety
In the wake of the tragedy, Chief Minister Gupta announced plans to introduce legislation requiring regular structural safety audits and certifications for buildings used by the public, including student hostels, nursing homes and other accommodation facilities.
The proposed measures are intended to strengthen oversight of ageing and potentially unsafe structures, particularly during the monsoon season, when heavy rainfall and water accumulation can further compromise vulnerable buildings.
Modi Expresses Grief
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep distress over the loss of lives and conveyed his condolences to the families of those who died in the collapse.
Authorities were also working to evacuate an adjoining building after concerns were raised about its structural stability, amid fears that it could also collapse.
Building collapses remain a recurring problem in several Indian cities, particularly in densely populated areas where ageing structures, unauthorised construction and inadequate maintenance pose persistent safety risks. The latest tragedy has renewed calls for stricter enforcement of building regulations and more effective inspections to prevent further loss of life.
BY: The Times Union
