Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta visited the Satya Niketan building collapse site on Monday morning to assess the search and rescue operation and review the response of government agencies following the deadly incident.
The collapse of the decades-old multi-storey building near Delhi University’s South Campus claimed six lives and left several people injured. The structure was being used as a boys’ paying guest accommodation.
Gupta had also reached the location on Sunday and returned on Monday to take stock of the continuing operations. Senior Delhi government officials and representatives of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi accompanied her during the inspection.
Action ordered against unsafe buildings
Following the collapse, the Delhi government ordered an immediate crackdown on buildings that violate safety and construction regulations.
The Chief Minister directed authorities to seal illegal five-storey buildings across the national capital as a precautionary measure. Officials have also been instructed to carry out detailed inspections of nearby PG accommodations and other vulnerable structures.
Buildings found to be operating in violation of prescribed safety standards will face sealing action, according to the Chief Minister’s Office.
The government has also directed the MCD to identify officials responsible for any administrative or regulatory lapses connected with the incident. Action will be taken against those found responsible.
FIR registered against building owner
Police have registered a case against the building’s owner, identified as Hariram, along with other individuals in connection with the collapse.
The FIR was filed at South Campus Police Station under provisions relating to culpable homicide, negligence in maintaining a structure and putting the lives and safety of others at risk.
The government had already ordered a magisterial inquiry into the collapse on Sunday to establish how the incident occurred and determine responsibility for any lapses.
Six killed, 11 rescued
Rescue operations at the site continued with teams from the Delhi Police, Delhi Fire Service, National Disaster Response Force and Delhi Disaster Management Authority working to search the debris.
Eleven people have so far been rescued from the collapsed structure, while the death toll has risen to six.
Gupta had also visited AIIMS on Sunday to meet injured people following the incident. The Delhi government said it was coordinating with the families of those affected and providing assistance to the injured.
Students among those staying in the area
The building was located in an area heavily used by students attending colleges around Delhi University’s South Campus.
According to local residents, many students living in the surrounding PG accommodations came from Kerala, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Several were studying at institutions including Motilal Nehru College, Atma Ram Sanatan Dharm College and Sri Venkateswara College.
The latest inspection and proposed sealing drive are expected to focus particularly on older and unauthorised structures being used as student accommodation and PG facilities across Delhi.
