Rescue Continues As Six Die In Collapse Of Six-Storey PG Building In Delhi’s Satya Niketan
Six dead after Delhi Satya Niketan building collapse.
At least six people have died and several others remain feared trapped under debris after a six-storey building collapsed in Delhi's Satya Niketan area on Sunday afternoon, prompting the Delhi government to order a magisterial probe into the incident. Eleven people have been rescued so far, with two of the injured reported to be in critical condition, according to officials overseeing the rescue operation. The building, believed to be nearly 30 years old, was being used as a paying guest (PG) accommodation housing students enrolled in Delhi University colleges located across the road.
An eyewitness said at least 50 students were believed to be inside the structure at the time of the collapse, raising concerns that additional casualties could emerge as rescue teams continue clearing the debris. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta visited the site shortly after the incident and later met injured victims being treated at the AIIMS Trauma Centre. Following an on-site review, Gupta ordered a magisterial inquiry into the collapse along with the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against the building's owner, according to a statement from the Delhi Chief Minister's Office.
Officials said preliminary assessments pointed to structural failure linked to renovation and excavation work being carried out at the building, with a pillar reportedly shifting during the process and triggering the collapse. Multiple agencies, including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Delhi Fire Services, Delhi Police and the Delhi Disaster Management Authority, have been deployed at the site to continue search and rescue efforts. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences over the incident, calling it "distressing" in a message shared by the Prime Minister's Office on X.
Also Read: Rekha Gupta Orders Strict FIR Against PG Owner Following Fatal Delhi Collapse
"The collapse of a building at Satya Niketan, Delhi, is distressing. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. Praying for the speedy recovery of the injured. Authorities are working at the site and assisting those affected in the mishap," the post read, quoting the prime minister. The remarks reflect a now-familiar pattern of federal condolence statements following building collapses in Delhi, several of which in recent years have similarly been linked to unauthorized construction or renovation work in aging structures.
The tragedy has renewed scrutiny of building safety standards in Delhi, particularly for older structures converted into informal student housing near university campuses. Similar collapses have occurred in the same Satya Niketan neighborhood in past years, including a 2018 incident and another in 2019, both linked to renovation work in structurally compromised buildings. As the investigation proceeds, authorities are expected to examine whether the property had appropriate permits for the renovation work underway at the time of the collapse, while emergency crews continue efforts to clear the wreckage in search of anyone who may still be unaccounted for.
Also Read: Delhi Building Collapse: Trapped Students Making Calls From Debris, Says MLA
