At least seven people have died after a five-storey building collapsed in Delhi’s Satya Niketan area on Sunday. Several others were injured, while rescue teams continued searching the debris on Monday for possible survivors.
The building, known as Hostel Daze, collapsed at around 1:30 pm on Sunday. The property was reportedly being used as a private hostel and paying-guest accommodation, with a large number of students residing there.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said that the collapse may have been caused by water accumulation in the basement combined with ongoing repair work. However, authorities have not yet confirmed the exact cause of the incident.
By Monday morning, around 80 per cent of the debris had reportedly been cleared, with rescue teams focusing on the remaining rubble in the basement.
Personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Delhi Police, fire services and disaster management teams were deployed at the site. Rescue workers used excavators and electric saws to cut through concrete and metal structures while searching for people who may still be trapped.
Eyewitnesses said several people were inside the building when it collapsed. Some students were reportedly heard calling for help from beneath the debris shortly after the incident.
The adjacent building was also evacuated as a precautionary measure. Police have registered a case against the building owner and launched a search for him. Authorities are also investigating whether excavation or structural work had been carried out in the basement before the collapse.
Satya Niketan is located near Delhi University's South Campus and has a large student population. Due to limited hostel facilities, many students from outside Delhi stay in private hostels and PG accommodations in the area.
Students living in the locality have raised concerns over the condition and safety of several buildings in the densely populated neighbourhood.
The National Students' Union of India has called for a thorough investigation into the collapse and demanded strict action against anyone found responsible.
