New Delhi, September 8: The collapse of a residential building being used as a paying guest accommodation in Satya Niketan has left seven people dead and several others injured, while grieving families have raised questions over building safety and the response of authorities.The incident occurred on Sunday in the Satya Niketan area near Delhi University’s South Campus.
A rescue operation continued for more than 27 hours before being completed on Monday evening.The tragedy has particularly affected families who had sent their children to Delhi from smaller towns and other states to pursue higher education.
Bhupendra Jaj, a resident of Dewas in Madhya Pradesh, lost his 21-year-old son Ankit in the incident. Speaking during his son’s final rites, Jaj made an emotional appeal to parents, expressing his disappointment over the tragedy and the difficulties his family faced while trying to locate their son.
The family has called for a detailed investigation into the circumstances surrounding the collapse.Jaj’s family also decided to donate one of Ankit’s eyes after doctors informed them that the other had been damaged in the incident. The decision was taken as a way of helping another person despite the family’s loss.
Ankit’s grandfather Makhanlal Jaj alleged that the authorities did not provide adequate assistance to the family during their search. He called for immediate action against unsafe and dilapidated buildings to prevent similar incidents.
Another student, 19-year-old Neeraj Bawa from Jammu, was seriously injured and remained in intensive care, according to his family. Bawa, a second-year BA student at Motilal Nehru College, had chosen Delhi for higher education despite his family’s preference that he continue his studies in Jammu.
His cousin said the family learnt about the collapse through television reports and travelled to Delhi after realising that Neeraj lived in a PG in the affected area.
Neeraj’s friend and fellow student, 19-year-old Nitish Chib, also suffered injuries but was recovering and expected to be discharged.The incident has also influenced the decisions of other families. Nitish’s mother said her daughter, who had been considering moving to Delhi for higher studies, had reconsidered the plan following the tragedy.
Police have arrested the building owner, 81-year-old Hariram, his 75-year-old wife Urmila and their 52-year-old son Mahesh. The three have been booked under charges including culpable homicide, negligence related to the upkeep of a structure and acts endangering public safety.The arrests come amid demands for a thorough examination of the building’s condition, maintenance and the circumstances that led to its collapse.
The tragedy has renewed concerns over the safety of old buildings being used as PGs and other student accommodations in Delhi. It has also highlighted the need for effective inspections, timely identification of structurally unsafe properties and strict enforcement of safety regulations.
For the families of the victims, however, the immediate concern remains the loss of their loved ones, who had travelled to the national capital with hopes of pursuing education and building better futures.
