A five-storey paying guest building in Satya Niketan collapsed on Sunday afternoon, killing seven people and injuring six others. The building, estimated to be around 50 years old, housed nearly 75 students in PG accommodation. The incident has raised concerns over the safety of ageing residential structures used to house students and other tenants.

The collapse is believed to have originated in the basement, where repair work was reportedly underway at the time of the incident. The building had also allegedly started tilting several months before the collapse, although most residents were reportedly unaware of the structural concern. The circumstances surrounding the repair work and the condition of the building are expected to remain a key focus of the authorities' assessment.

Following the tragedy, civic authorities inspected structures in the vicinity and took steps against buildings considered unsafe. Three hostel buildings in the area were declared dangerous as part of the safety assessment. The action comes amid concerns about the structural condition of buildings accommodating large numbers of students and paying guests.

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The adjoining structure, which survived the collapse, was found to have weakened significantly and was subsequently supported with 18-20 iron guardrails placed across its front, back and centre. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) inspected the structure and served it a notice after determining that it posed a safety risk. The authorities have decided that the building will also have to be demolished.

MCD Commissioner Sanjeev Khirwar said the adjoining structure would be demolished in a calibrated, phase-wise manner. He indicated that the demolition would be undertaken within the next one to two days, with precautions being taken because of the building's weakened condition. The authorities' immediate priority remains preventing further structural failure and ensuring the safety of people in the surrounding area.

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