Rescue operations continue in New Delhi’s Satya Niketan area as emergency personnel dig through rubble following the collapse of a five-story building that has claimed at least seven lives. The building, which housed a boys’ paying guest accommodation near Delhi University’s South Campus, collapsed around 1:30 p.m. on Sunday while repair work was underway in the basement.
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) Inspector General Narendra Singh Bundela said that due to the large quantity of debris, the rescue operation is likely to continue till the evening. Bundela stated that 11 victims have so far been rescued from the debris, of which six have been declared dead, while five are undergoing treatment in hospital. He also informed that one more person has been detected beneath the rubble and rescue teams are making efforts to safely extricate the victim.
The death toll has since risen to seven after rescue personnel recovered another body amid the rubble on Monday. According to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), the JPN Apex Trauma Centre received 10 patients injured in the collapse. Of these, five were brought dead, while another patient who was in critical condition later succumbed to injuries. Three patients have been admitted and are undergoing treatment, with one undergoing limb surgery and another with minor injuries discharged after observation.
Investigation and Official Response
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta visited the site on Sunday to review the ongoing rescue operation and directed officials to ensure close coordination. Speaking to reporters, Gupta said preliminary information suggested that excavation in the basement may have caused a pillar to shift, triggering the collapse. ‘Whoever is responsible for this, whether it is the building owner or an official, will not be spared,’ Gupta said.
The Delhi government has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident and directed that an FIR be registered against the building owner. The Chief Minister’s Office said those found responsible for the ‘grave incident’ would be held fully accountable and dealt with under the strictest provisions of law. Delhi Police has registered an FIR under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita at South Campus police station against the alleged owner, identified as Hariram, and others. Police said the building was a PG accommodation and it is alleged that renovation work on the ground floor led to the collapse.
On Monday, Gupta ordered the sealing of all five-story buildings in the city and said a policy is being drafted requiring owners of old buildings to submit structural audit reports and certify their safety before operating PG services, nursing homes, schools or other commercial establishments.
Building History and Safety Concerns
The ill-fated building, which comprised a basement and five floors, was nearly 50 years old and had been used as a paying guest accommodation. Investigators indicate it did not have the necessary permissions required for commercial use, and sources said the structure was originally a residential complex converted into commercial accommodation as demand grew among students from nearby colleges.
The building, named Hostel Daze, had around 30 rooms and was being used to accommodate students, with monthly rents ranging from Rs 12,000 to Rs 15,000. Sources said the building remained sealed for years due to its old structure but was de-sealed last year. The building owner spent several months overhauling the structure, and in August this year it started housing tenants, though construction work remained incomplete.
Atul Garg, former Director of the Delhi Fire Services, said the building was originally a ground-plus-one structure but was later converted into a three or four-floor building without approved plans. Garg noted that heavy rain the previous night and ongoing construction work were both factors that made the chances of collapse ‘very high’.
Residents described the collapse as feeling like an earthquake. ‘We felt the ground shake. When we ran outside, we saw that a house had completely collapsed,’ said Roshan Pal, a student from Lucknow. Another resident, Rahul Gaur, said, ‘When I came out, a cloud of dust was spreading in all directions. That’s when we realized that the building had collapsed. We started removing one part of a wall soon after. Seven students were under it’.
Rescue Operation Challenges
The NDRF is using specialized equipment, including breaching and cutting systems, lifting equipment, inflatable bags and hydraulic and wooden shoring systems to remove concrete slabs and stabilize the collapsed structure. Canines and life-detection equipment are also being deployed to locate victims trapped under the debris. Bundela said the congested location poses challenges for rescue operations, particularly in movement of vehicles and positioning of heavy equipment.
An adjoining building has been evacuated as a precautionary measure, and authorities continue to monitor the site. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi has ordered the demolition of the collapsed property within three days, stating it was in a ‘ruinous, dangerous condition’ and posed a threat to people in the neighborhood. The collapse has raised fresh questions over the safety of buildings being used as paying guest accommodations and the enforcement of construction and fire safety norms in densely populated areas of Delhi.
