A second-year B.Com student at Delhi University, Nitesh Chib, was trapped under the rubble after a paying guest accommodation building collapsed in Delhi’s Satya Niketan on Sunday. Chib had just finished lunch in his room at the HostelDaze PG when the structure suddenly came crashing down. He and a friend remained trapped beneath the debris for around an hour and a half before rescue teams pulled them out.

Chib recalled that his friend managed to share his WhatsApp location and send SOS messages to friends after the collapse. The messages helped alert others and brought rescue teams to the site, eventually leading to the pair being rescued from beneath the debris. Chib later told NDTV that his body had become numb and that he realised he was injured before being taken to hospital. He is now recovering from the incident and the trauma associated with the collapse.

The student said those staying at the PG had never suspected that the building was structurally weak enough to collapse. According to Chib, the property appeared normal from the outside, with no visible cracks or other warning signs that suggested an immediate danger. He also recalled that construction work had been underway in the basement for more than a week before the building suddenly collapsed, leaving residents with little warning.

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The incident has raised concerns about safety standards at buildings being used as accommodation for students in Delhi. Chib appealed to the government to ensure that safety regulations are strictly enforced and that such properties undergo regular inspections. He pointed out that students coming to the national capital for education often have limited accommodation choices and may depend on paying guest facilities for their stay.

Seven people, including five students, were killed and several others injured in the building collapse. The FIR registered in connection with the case alleges that the owners, Hariram Bansal alias Gupta and his brother, were aware that the old foundation was not capable of carrying additional weight. Despite this, they allegedly proceeded with construction of four additional floors on the existing structure.

According to the FIR, the additional construction was allegedly undertaken with the intention of increasing rental income. Investigators have alleged that the extra floors placed considerable stress on the decades-old structure and its load-bearing capacity, ultimately pushing the building beyond its structural limits. The allegations are part of the ongoing investigation into the collapse and the circumstances that led to the deaths and injuries.

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