‘Don’t want to live here anymore’: Students in Delhi’s Satya Niketan pack bags

Satya Niketan, a popular hostel for Delhi University students, witnessed a harrowing experience on Sunday when a five-storey building collapsed, leaving at least seven lives lost. The incident has prompted students to vacate their residences, with many seeking temporary accommodation due to rising rents and dissatisfaction with living conditions.

Unnayan Bhati, an 18-year-old student from Bulandshahr, enrolled at Aryabhatta College and moved to Satya Niketan. He was dismayed by the high rent and steep electricity rates. After a month-long search, he found a new hostel just hours before the tragedy struck. The building, known as 'Hostel Daze', collapsed in front of Bhati and his broker, who fled the scene. Bhati is seeking Rs 1 crore in compensation for the victims.

Others, like the Arunachal Pradesh student who paid Rs 17,000 a month for a double-sharing room in Hostel Daze, and Isha Biswas, a 19-year-old witnessing the rescue operation, are also considering leaving the area. Their experiences range from seepage of rainwater into their rooms to increasing rent. Despite the chaos and trauma, many are hesitant to move away, as they are unable to afford the additional expenses and fear dropping out of their courses.