Delhi Building Collapse Highlights: Rekha Gupta govt orders structural audit of all PGs

Delhi University Vice-Chancellor Professor Yogesh Singh on Monday expressed deep sorrow over the deaths of DU students in the collapse of a five-storey PG building in Satya Niketan, near the university’s South Campus, on September 6.

Singh convened a meeting of college principals, during which a two-minute silence was observed in memory of the students who died in the tragedy.

Calling the incident a severe blow to the university, the Vice-Chancellor stressed the need for immediate measures to prevent similar tragedies. He directed principals to review accommodation facilities available to students, expedite work on hostels under construction and examine the feasibility of building new ones.

Colleges were also asked to assess the space available on their campuses, identify relevant government schemes and determine other requirements for expanding residential facilities to accommodate as many students as possible.

Singh assured that Delhi University would extend all possible assistance to the affected students and the families of those killed.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has ordered structural audits of all existing paying guest accommodations across the capital. Special attention will be given to PGs in areas such as Mukherjee Nagar, Rajendra Nagar, Laxmi Nagar, Satya Niketan and Saket.

Hariram and his son Mahesh are in police custody. They are the owners of the building that collapsed in Satya Niketan.

(Inputs from Arvind Ojha)

Delhi Police brought the arrested accused — Hariram, his wife Urmila, and their son Mahesh — to RK Puram Police Station.

Delhi Home Minister Ashish Sood said officials discussed measures to address the shortage of residential facilities for lakhs of students who come to the capital to study. These included granting additional Floor Area Ratio (FAR) benefits to develop and expand existing hostels.

Following a meeting with the Lieutenant Governor, Sood said all departments would jointly inspect buildings housing coaching institutes and PG accommodations to prevent another such incident. The time-bound exercise would also examine how PGs and educational institutes could be regularised.

Delhi Police has also arrested the wife and son of the Satya Niketan building owner. Police have arrested son Mahesh and wife Urmila. Police earlier arrested Hariram, the owner of the building.

(Inputs from Arvind Ojha)

List of Deceased
1. Abhishek (20) (Student)
2. Yuvraj Soni (20) (Student)
3. Pawan (17) (Student)
4. Arpit Jahaj (19) (Student)
5. Akshat Singh Yadav (18) (Student)
6. Surinder Singh (75) (Labourer)
7. One unidentified male

List of injured
1. Asgar Ali (30)
2. Neeraj Bawa (19)
3. Aditya Kumar (19)
4. Nitish Chib (19)
5. Md. Ayan (18)

Rescue operations were completed in Satya Niketan, where a five-storey building collapsed on Sunday, say Delhi Police.

(Inputs from Arvind Ojha)

12 people were admitted to hospitals. Of these, 7 persons, including 1 unidentified male, succumbed to their injuries, while 5 persons are presently undergoing treatment.

(Inputs from Arvind Ojha)

A key meeting is underway at the Lieutenant Governor’s office over the Satya Niketan building collapse incident. The meeting is being attended by NDRF chief Piyush Anand, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Delhi Home Minister Ashish Sood, Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar, MCD Commissioner Sanjeev Khairwal, Higher Education Secretary Dilraj Kaur, Delhi University Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh, and Delhi Fire Services Special Secretary Sachin Rana, among other officials.

(Inputs from Sushant Mehra)

Of the five MCD officials against whom Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has ordered action, two—Deputy Commissioner Rakesh Kumar and Superintendent Engineer Ranvir Singh—were also serving in the MCD at the time of the Malviya Nagar incident. At least 21 people were killed in a massive fire at the Flourish Stay B&B in South Delhi's Malviya Nagar on June 3, 2026.

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi has suspended five South Zone officials with immediate effect following the Satya Niketan building collapse.

Those suspended are:

• Rakesh Kumar, Deputy Commissioner, South Zone

• Ranveer Singh, Superintending Engineer, South Zone

• Lalit Kumar, Executive Engineer (Building), South Zone

• Sunil Chauhan, Assistant Engineer (Building), South Zone

• Ashish Kumar, Junior Engineer (Building), South Zone

(Inputs from Arvind Ojha)

Delhi High Court calls Satya Niketan building-collapse incident "most unfortunate".

(Inputs from Aneesha Mathur)

The Delhi High Court issued notices to Delhi University, the MCD, the NHRC, the Delhi government, the Union government and Delhi Police over the Satya Niketan building collapse.

The court directed the MCD’s highest executive authority to investigate whether the collapsed buildings had been constructed with valid permission. If they were found to have been built without approval, the civic body must identify the officials responsible for the lapse and submit details of the action taken against them.

The High Court also ordered the MCD to audit PG accommodations and hostels across the area to determine whether they were constructed with the required permissions and in compliance with building bylaws.

• MCD Deputy Commissioner, Executive Engineer, Superintending Engineer, Assistant Engineer and Junior Engineer suspended with immediate effect
• The building owner has been arrested
• Immediate sealing of buildings with unauthorised fifth floors
• Nearby PGs and buildings being thoroughly inspected
  

The Delhi High Court will on Wednesday hear a public interest litigation seeking an inquiry and compensation over the Satya Niketan building collapse.

The PIL seeks an independent judicial inquiry into the collapse of the residential building in Satya Niketan. It also calls for immediate medical treatment and rehabilitation for the affected students, compensation for the victims and the safe relocation of students.

(Inputs from Sanjay Sharma)

"We have recovered one casualty a short while ago, bringing the total number of recoveries from the site to 13; according to the information we have, six are currently undergoing treatment, while seven have died," says Chief Fire Officer AK Malik.

(ANI)

Students are leaving their PG accommodations in Delhi and heading to Lucknow, while others are moving in with relatives.

(Inputs from Jitendra Bahadur Singh)

The principal regulations governing construction in the capital are the Master Plan for Delhi-2021 (MPD-2021) and the Unified Building Bye-Laws-2016 (UBBL-2016). Amendments issued from time to time and special rules applicable to particular localities must also be followed.

FAR, or Floor Area Ratio, determines the total floor area that can be constructed on a plot. For example, an FAR of 300 on a 100-square-metre plot permits up to 300 square metres of FAR-covered construction.

However, FAR alone does not determine whether construction will be permitted. Rules on ground coverage, setbacks, building height, parking, fire safety and other requirements must also be followed.

(Inputs from Sushant Mehra)

Delhi Mayor Pravesh Wahi said the MCD’s decision to suspend South Zone Deputy Commissioner Rakesh Kumar and four engineers was taken after “serious and careful consideration”. He said the action was aimed at ensuring public safety and preventing such incidents in the future.