Delhi Building Collapse News Highlights: Modi condoles Satya Niketan incident, wishes speedy recovery for injured

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Sunday directed a magisterial inquiry into the Satya Niketan building collapse that killed five Delhi University students and left several others injured, as per PTI.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southwest) Amit Goel said police have registered an FIR against building owner Hariram and others in connection with the Satya Niketan collapse.

The case has been filed at the South Campus police station under Sections 105, 290 and 125 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), pertaining to culpable homicide not amounting to murder, negligent conduct during the construction or repair of buildings, and acts endangering the life or personal safety of others.

Before the rescue agencies arrived, students and locals dug through the debris of the collapsed PG in south Delhi's Satya Niketan on Sunday, and formed a human chain to remove the rubble piece by piece in the hope of reaching those buried underneath, PTI reported.

Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) members on Sunday were detained by Delhi police for demanding the resignation of Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) Commissioner Sanjeev Khirwar following the tragic PG building collapse in Satya Niketan.

ABVP workers allegedly vandalised the MCD office at the Civic Centre on Sunday evening while protesting against the Satya Niketan building collapse.

The protesters demanded the resignation of the MCD Commissioner over the incident, as per HT.

The death toll in the Satya Niketan building collapse has risen to five after an unidentified man, aged around 70, was brought dead to the AIIMS Trauma Centre at 9:50 pm.

The male victim was declared brought dead upon arrival at the hospital

President Droupadi Murmu expressed her sorrow over the building collapse in Delhi and conveyed her condolences to those who lost their loved ones in the incident.

Writing on X, she said, “I am deeply saddened by the accident of a building collapse in Delhi. My heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones in this tragedy. I pray for the swift recovery of the injured.”

The collapse of a five-storey building in south Delhi’s Satya Niketan on Sunday, which left at least three students dead, has prompted locals to point to ongoing repair work and water accumulation in the basement as possible factors. The MCD, however, said it would be able to establish whether any work was being carried out only after the debris was removed, as per PTI.

MCD officials said tenants had been moved out of a neighbouring building that houses a girls’ PG, following which the premises were sealed as a precaution.

The collapsed structure, which operated as a boys’ hostel, was nearly three decades old and had four floors above the ground floor. It stood on a roughly 55-square-yard plot in a resettlement colony where construction approval was limited to a ground floor and one additional floor, a senior civic official said.

According to the official, the building breached construction regulations by having additional floors beyond the permitted G+1 structure.

Union Minister of State and Delhi BJP chief Harsh Malhotra said the immediate focus remained on rescue operations, with NDRF personnel continuing their search for any workers or children who may still be trapped beneath the debris. He said additional NDRF teams had also been summoned to strengthen the operation.

Malhotra added that Chief Minister Rekha Gupta had spent two to three hours at the site, while the Lieutenant Governor had also visited. He said senior officials, including the Chief Secretary, Municipal Commissioner and Mayor, were present and overseeing the rescue efforts.

Sri Venkateswara College has announced a holiday for Monday, September 7, in view of the situation in and around Satya Niketan, as per HT.

The college administration advised students to prioritise their safety and keep themselves updated with official information and instructions.

Union Health Minister J P Nadda on Sunday spoke to Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and took stock of the situation following the collapse of a five-storey building in south Delhi's Satya Niketan, which left three students dead and several others injured.

Nadda assured the chief minister of all necessary support from the Union health ministry and called on the directors of AIIMS and other central government hospitals in Delhi to provide all possible medical assistance to those injured in the incident, official sources said.

Taking to X, Nadda said that local authorities are carrying out rescue and relief operations on a war footing.

"Deeply saddened by the tragic building collapse at Satya Niketan in Delhi. My thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by this unfortunate incident. I pray for the safety and well-being of everyone affected and for the speedy recovery of those injured," his post read

— PTI

Cockroach Janata Party founder Abhijeet Dipke on Sunday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi over educational infrastructure in the country on Sunday.

Dipke on X said Modi visited Delhi University a day before and delivered a political speech and invoked the term "dimagi naxal", but spoke little about the state of the country's educational infrastructure.

"Today, a hostel building in South Campus has collapsed, with students feared trapped under the debris. The number of casualties is still unknown," he said.

Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi on Sunday spoke to Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta about the Satya Niketan building collapse, in which three students have died and several people remain trapped.

"Deeply saddened by the news of the private building collapse in Satya Niketan, near Delhi University's South Campus. I have spoken to Delhi Chief Minister Smt. @gupta_rekha ji, who is personally monitoring and has assured me that all necessary rescue and relief measures are being undertaken expeditiously," Joshi wrote on X.

"Praying for the safety of everyone who is trapped and wishing a speedy recovery for those who have been injured," he added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the building collapse in Delhi’s Satya Niketan, conveyed condolences to the families of those who died and wished for the quick recovery of those injured. He said authorities were carrying out rescue operations at the site and extending assistance to those affected.

"The collapse of a building at Satya Niketan, Delhi is distressing. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. Praying for the speedy recovery of the injured. Authorities are working at the site and assisting those affected in the mishap," PM Modi said.

An officer said the rescue operation was being overseen by the Joint Commissioner of Police, New Delhi Range, along with the DCP Southwest and Additional DCP. The collapsed building was identified as ‘Hostel Daze’, while its owner is based in Gurugram, as per PTI.

Delhi University expressed deep sorrow over the building collapse in Satya Niketan, saying its thoughts were with the affected students and their families. The university also prayed for the safe rescue of those feared trapped and assured students of all possible support.

"We are deeply pained and saddened by the building collapse in Delhi’s Satya Niketan. Our thoughts are with the students and families affected. We pray for the safe rescue of all those trapped and stand ready to support our students in every possible way," DU said.

“No one will be spared,” Delhi CM Rekha Gupta said on Satya Niketan building collapse incident.

DCP Southwest Amit Goel said nine people had been rescued from the debris so far, while three people had died in the Satya Niketan building collapse.