A five-storey building known as โHostel Dazeโ collapsed in the Satya Niketan area near Delhi University's South Campus on Sunday afternoon.
The latest reports put the death toll at seven, while several people have been injured. Rescue teams continued operations into Monday as authorities searched through the rubble for anyone who may still be trapped.
The building was reportedly several decades old and had been functioning as a student paying-guest accommodation.
Rescue Operation Continues
Multiple agencies, including the NDRF, Delhi Fire Services, Delhi Police and disaster-management teams, have been involved in the rescue operation.
Earthmoving equipment and other resources have been deployed to clear the debris. Authorities are continuing to assess whether additional people could remain trapped beneath the collapsed structure.
The congested lanes around Satya Niketan have made access for emergency vehicles more difficult, while local residents and students also joined the initial rescue effort.
Repair Work Under Scanner
Preliminary reports indicate that repair or construction work was underway in the building's basement when the structure collapsed.
The building had reportedly been used to accommodate students, raising questions about whether the premises met required structural and safety standards.
Authorities have ordered an inquiry, while police have registered a case against the building's owner. The exact cause of the collapse is still being investigated.
Delhi High Court to Hear PIL
The tragedy has also reached the Delhi High Court.
A PIL filed by Delhi University law student Aniket Kumar Gupta seeks an independent investigation into the collapse and a comprehensive structural and safety audit of PG accommodations, hostels and other student housing facilities in Delhi.
The petition also seeks โน1 crore compensation for the families of deceased victims, along with appropriate compensation and rehabilitation measures for injured students.
Safety Audit Sought Across Delhi
The PIL raises broader concerns about the safety of student accommodation in areas with large concentrations of PGs and hostels.
It seeks verification of:
Structural stability of buildings
Approved building plans
Unauthorised construction
Additional floors and structural alterations
Whether buildings are legally being used as PGs or hostels
Fire and life-safety compliance
Occupancy and other required permissions
The Delhi High Court has allowed the matter to be listed urgently before a bench headed by Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia.
Questions Over Student Housing Safety
The Satya Niketan incident has renewed concerns over the safety of private student accommodation in Delhi.
Areas such as Satya Niketan and other major student hubs contain numerous PGs, hostels and converted residential properties. The PIL argues that a wider safety audit is necessary to identify buildings that may pose risks to students.
Authorities are now expected to examine whether safety regulations were followed at the collapsed property and whether any violations contributed to the disaster.
