MCD issues notices to ruinous buildings after Satya Niketan PG building collapse
The building that housed Delhi University students was built on around 55 square yards; it was a five-storey building in a resettlement colony
A CCTV recording has emerged depicting the instant a five-story hostel in Delhi's Satya Niketan collapsed, resulting in at least five fatalities and numerous others trapped beneath the rubble. Situated opposite Sri Venkateswara College in Dhaula Kuan, the building housed students and others residing in paying guest accommodations.
Ten individuals were extracted from the debris and transported to the AIIMS Trauma Centre, with seven of them in critical condition, as per police reports. Rescue efforts persisted into the night.
The collapse occurred around 1:34 PM following a call to a local police control room about a structure near Nanakpura Gurdwara collapsing. At least eight fire trucks were dispatched to the scene, alongside teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Delhi Fire Services, SDRF, and other rescue agencies. AIIMS treated 11 patients for injuries sustained during the incident, with five arriving deceased.
One patient who was initially deemed critical later died from injuries. Three others were admitted and are receiving treatment, including one who underwent surgery for a fracture. Another suffered minor injuries and was discharged post-observation.
The video reveals the building's sudden collapse, with a significant section of the structure falling and debris scattering across the area. The video captures the rapid nature of the event, as concrete and other materials plummeted, leaving little time for occupants to react. Vehicles parked near the building suffered damage when debris struck them.
The collapse also left people trapped beneath the rubble, prompting rescue agencies to launch a challenging and cautious search operation, constrained by the potential risk of further harm to trapped individuals if the debris were moved. Due to safety concerns, heavy machinery was initially unable to be utilized at the site; teams instead had to manually remove portions of the rubble and proceed with extreme caution while searching for survivors.
The rescue operation continued for multiple hours as teams from various agencies collaborated to clear the debris. Authorities remained at the site to evaluate the condition of neighboring structures and ensure the safety of rescue personnel.
The renovation work carried out on the premises is presently under scrutiny, with allegations of renovation undertaken on the ground floor and excavation allegedly being done in the basement. These actions have raised concerns about potential weakening of the foundation. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta visited the site after the collapse and later proceeded to the AIIMS Trauma Centre.
She mentioned preliminary information indicating that the excavation work in the basement may have compromised the structure. A pillar was reported to have shifted before the building fell. Police registered an FIR under Sections 105, 290, and 125(a) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which pertain to culpable homicide, negligence in building construction or repair, and actions endangering human life.
The investigation is ongoing, with multiple teams examining the possible involvement of the alleged owner and others connected to the building.
Written by urgent.news from The Indian Express's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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