At least seven people have been killed after a multi-storey building housing students collapsed in Delhi's Satya Niketan, as rescue teams continued searching through tonnes of concrete and debris for people who may still be trapped.
The building, located close to Delhi University's South Campus, collapsed at around 1.30 pm on Sunday. It housed a boys' paying guest accommodation known as Hostel Daze and was estimated to be between 40 and 50 years old.
Twelve people had been rescued by Monday morning, while authorities said the exact number of people still trapped beneath the rubble remained unclear. Some of those rescued were taken to AIIMS Trauma Centre and Safdarjung Hospital for treatment.
The collapse triggered a large multi-agency emergency operation involving the National Disaster Response Force, Delhi Fire Services, Delhi Disaster Management Authority, police, Municipal Corporation of Delhi and other agencies.
The narrow and congested lanes surrounding the building complicated the operation, making it difficult for heavy rescue equipment and emergency vehicles to reach the site.
Rescuers worked through the night, using specialised equipment and sniffer dogs to search for survivors. Oxygen cylinders were also brought in to supply air to people believed to be trapped in pockets beneath the rubble.
Attention has now turned to renovation work being carried out in the building shortly before it collapsed.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said preliminary information indicated that construction and renovation work was underway and that excavation in the basement may have caused a pillar to shift, triggering the collapse of the structure. The exact cause, however, has not yet been officially established and remains under investigation.
Gupta ordered a magisterial inquiry into the disaster and directed police to register an FIR against the building's owner.
Police identified the owner as Hariram Bansal, a resident of Gurugram. A case has been registered under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to culpable homicide not amounting to murder, negligent conduct during building construction or repair, and acts endangering human life.
The investigation is also expected to examine whether the building was operating legally as student accommodation.
According to officials, the approximately 55-square-yard property consisted of a basement and multiple upper floors but did not have a sanctioned building plan. It also lacked a fire department no-objection certificate required for buildings taller than nine metres accommodating more than 20 students.
The PG reportedly contained around 15 rooms, generally shared by two or three students. Many residents attended nearby Delhi University institutions, including Sri Venkateswara College, Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College and Motilal Nehru College.
The tragedy has renewed scrutiny of unauthorised construction and student accommodation across the capital.
Following the collapse, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi ordered the immediate sealing of illegal buildings with more than four floors and warned that officials found responsible for failing to enforce building regulations could face dismissal.
Gupta visited both the collapse site and AIIMS Trauma Centre and promised action against anyone found responsible, including government officials.
“Whoever is responsible for this, whether it is the building owner or an official, will not be spared,” she said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed condolences to the families of those killed and wished the injured a speedy recovery, saying authorities were working to assist those affected.
The disaster has raised broader questions about building safety in densely populated student neighbourhoods around Delhi University, where residential properties are frequently converted into hostels and paying guest accommodation.
For now, however, the priority remains the search operation. With authorities unable to confirm how many people may still be beneath the collapsed structure, rescue teams are continuing to work through the debris.
