The death toll in Delhi’s Satya Niketan building collapse incident rose to seven on Monday, September 7, even as rescue work continued at the site of the collapsed five-storey building near Delhi University’s South Campus that served as a paying guest accommodation for boys.
The 50-year-old building collapsed at about 1:30 pm on Sunday, September 6, leaving several people trapped under the debris. Twelve injured people were sent to the AIIMS Trauma Centre as per the hospital. Two National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams comprising about 70 personnel and a canine squad were engaged in the search operation, and oxygen cylinders were sent down into the debris for those trapped there, said officials.
Delhi High Court on Monday described the incident as the “most unfortunate”. The court said not only the building owners are responsible for the tragedy, but also Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and Delhi University (DU). Outstation students are forced to live in private paying guest (PG) accommodations because the varsity has failed to provide adequate housing facilities, the HC said.
Hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) matter relating to the building collapse, a bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia asked authorities to double up the efforts in the rescue operations so that human lives can be saved. The HC asked the authorities to file their separate replies to the petition within 10 days and listed the matter for further hearing on September 25.
The property, locally known as ‘Hostel Daze’, had a basement and four stories above. Initially it was feared that about 30 to 50 students were trapped under the debris with some of them reportedly making calls for help from there.
The rescue operation involved Delhi Disaster Management Authority, Delhi Fire Services, Delhi Police, Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Centralised Accident and Trauma Services (CATS) and Civil Defence. Locals also participated in the effort to clear the rubble with their bare hands and other tools that they could find. Witnesses said they heard a loud rumble just before the collapse. Others said they heard cries from under the debris.
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New CCTV footage of the collapse in the five-storey Hostel Daze building shows a shopkeeper barely escaping as it fell during the rescue. The cause of the collapse was unclear.
The building’s owner, Hariram Bansal, was arrested in Bhiwadi in Rajasthan on Monday. Delhi Police had issued a lookout notice for him on Sunday soon after the building collapsed and taken away his passport. Ten police teams were deployed to locate him, and his associates’ homes were raided in several places, including Gurugram, where he resides.
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Delhi CM Gupta visited the site and the injured at AIIMS on Sunday. She said they would take strict action against those responsible for the tragedy. She also ordered a magisterial probe.
An MCD official said the building violated building norms. Built in the late 1990s, it was later converted to a PG. Police are investigating if extra floors were added and when, and if approvals were taken. Residents said two more floors were built about two years ago. The property was gradually modified for the use of paying students and beds rented individually. The probe will look into if any changes to the building had increased its load and if building norms were followed.
Another crucial aspect being examined is the alleged basement work. Delhi Police claimed repairs were underway in the basement when the building collapsed. Residents also told reporters that the work had been going on for a week or so. Some described waterlogging, dampness and standing water in the basement.
On Sunday, about 150-200 ABVP members staged a protest at Delhi Civic Centre against MCD after the building collapse. They demanded the resignation of the MCD commissioner and alleged negligence and safety lapses in PG accommodations in student areas. The group also demanded an impartial probe and safety audits of all PG buildings in Delhi. About 15 students were detained after a scuffle with police.
