Delhi building collapse: Death toll rises to 6, FIR against alleged owner, MCD orders sealing drive
This digitally enhanced screenshot of a widely circulated amateur video on social media shows rescue workers at the site of the south Delhi building collapse.
New Delhi: The death toll in the Satya Niketan building collapse rose to six on Monday, a day after the multistorey structure being used as a boys’ paying guest accommodation near Delhi University’s South Campus came crashing down. Delhi Police have registered an FIR against alleged owner Hariram and others, while the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has ordered the immediate sealing of illegal constructions with more than four floors.
RNA Media had reported on Sunday that three people had been killed and several others were feared trapped as rescue teams searched the debris. The toll subsequently rose as more victims were recovered and one critically injured person died during treatment, while the Delhi government ordered a magisterial inquiry into the collapse.
Six killed as rescue operation continues
The building, located near Delhi University’s South Campus, was being used as student accommodation when it collapsed on Sunday afternoon. Teams from the National Disaster Response Force, Delhi Fire Service, Delhi Police and other agencies were deployed for the search and rescue operation.
The All India Institute of Medical Sciences said 11 patients from the collapse were brought to its trauma centre. Five were brought dead and another critically injured patient later died during treatment.
Gupta said preliminary information pointed to water accumulation and ongoing repair work in the basement of the old structure as factors in the collapse. A magisterial inquiry has been ordered to establish the circumstances and determine responsibility.
FIR registered against alleged owner
Delhi Police registered FIR No. 153/26 against Hariram, described as the alleged owner, and others at South Campus police station. Police said renovation work was allegedly underway at the property when it collapsed and teams had been formed to trace those named or suspected in the case.
Investigators are examining the nature of the work carried out at the property, its approvals and whether structural elements were affected. Reports have differed in how the floors of the building are counted, particularly over whether the basement and ground floor are included, so the structure is being described as multi storey pending further clarity.
Following the collapse, the MCD ordered all illegal constructions with more than four floors to be sealed immediately. It also warned that officials found responsible for allowing such structures could face strict action, including dismissal.
The citywide order is separate from the investigation into the collapsed Satya Niketan property. Hindustan Times, citing a senior MCD official familiar with the preliminary assessment, reported that the property had no sanctioned building plan and that unauthorised construction had been identified in the basement.
Safety violations under scrutiny
Additional floors, repair work in the basement and ground floor allegedly carried out without permission, and the absence of an emergency exit are among the issues under investigation, the Indian Express reported.
Police are examining whether the repair work affected any load bearing part of the structure and whether the paying guest facility complied with applicable rules. None of the alleged violations under scrutiny has yet been established by the magisterial inquiry as the definitive cause of the collapse.
