Delhi building collapse: Why DU hostels accommodate few, and the price others pay

NEW DELHI: At least six students lost their lives and several more were injured when a building housing them collapsed in the Indian capital, Delhi, according to the city's chief minister. As rescuers continued their efforts to recover survivors from the rubble, the cause of the collapse remains under investigation. The building, situated in the southern section of the city near educational institutions, comprised a basement and five upper floors and was being utilized as student accommodation.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta revealed that water accumulation in the basement, coupled with ongoing repair work, likely contributed to the old building's tragic collapse on Sunday. Photos from the scene depicted piles of bricks and fractured concrete pillars, with police, rescuers, and locals combing through the debris in search of trapped individuals.

Six people who were initially rescued and taken to a nearby hospital were reported to be in stable condition, according to Gupta. Authorities are currently seeking the building's owner, as frequent building collapses are a recurring issue in densely populated urban areas of India, where unauthorized construction is prevalent and law enforcement often proves inadequate.