On day of Delhi PG tragedy, a demolition notice for building next door

On the day a PG accommodation came crashing down in Delhi’s Satya Niketan, killing six people, a demolition notice for a building next door has surfaced. Issued by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), the notice describes the adjacent premises as being in a “ruinous, dangerous condition” and warns that it posed a threat to anyone living in, using or even passing by the property.

However, a crucial question remains unanswered: at what time was the notice issued? India Today cannot independently establish whether it was issued before or after the deadly collapse of the PG accommodation, known as Hostel Daze.

The MCD notice directs the property owner to demolish the building within three days of receiving the order. It also warns that if the order is not complied with, the civic body will carry out the demolition and recover the cost from the owner as arrears of tax.

The five-storey building collapsed at around 1.30 pm on Sunday while repair work was underway.

The structure is located near Delhi University’s South Campus, which houses the Motilal Nehru College, Atma Ram Sanatan Dharm College and Sri Venkateswara College.

Authorities have confirmed six deaths in the tragedy, while 11 people have been rescued from the debris.

Rescue operations are currently underway, with teams from the Delhi Police, Delhi Fire Service, National Disaster Response Force, Delhi Disaster Management Authority and other agencies searching the rubble for those still unaccounted for.

Harrowing visuals from the site showed desperate rescue efforts as students trapped under the debris used their phones to call for help.

Locals have alleged that water had accumulated in the basement over several days of rain, potentially weakening the foundation. The exact cause of the collapse, however, remains under investigation.

BUILDING BEYOND PERMITTED HEIGHT

In the wake of the tragedy, the MCD faces mounting questions about construction and building safety in the densely packed locality, where several residential properties have been converted into PG accommodations.

The civic body has also ordered the immediate sealing of all illegal construction exceeding four floors, warning of strict action, including the immediate dismissal of officials found responsible.

According to a senior MCD official, the collapsed structure was a ground-plus-five-storey building constructed on a plot measuring around 55 square yards in a resettlement colony where the original permission was only for a ground-plus-one structure.

The area is characterised by narrow lanes, eateries and numerous PG accommodations catering largely to students.

Most students residing in Satya Niketan are from Kerala, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

Meanwhile, the MCD evacuated occupants of another adjoining building housing a women’s PG and sealed the premises as a precaution. The building has been reinforced with iron pillars, with officials and residents raising concerns over its condition.

The building is reportedly slightly tilted, while the balcony is also considered at risk, adding to concerns about the safety of the structure.

POLICE CASE, PROTESTS

Police have registered a case against building owner Hariram, who is on the run, and others on charges including culpable homicide, negligence in maintaining a structure and endangering the safety of others.

The collapse has also triggered protests over the functioning of the civic body.

Around 150-200 ABVP students gathered at the MCD Civic Centre on Sunday, demanding accountability over the tragedy.

Police detained around 15 protesters after some allegedly attempted to enter the main Civic Centre building.

The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) has also demanded accountability, with founder and convenor Abhijeet Dipke criticising the condition of student accommodation and saying that students should not be forced to live in unsafe buildings.

While a CJP team visited the collapse site, the outfit announced that its volunteers would remain at the site to assist families and monitor the rescue operation until all students were accounted for.

It also called for a swift enquiry into municipal oversight of PG accommodations in the area and a safety audit of PG hostels across the capital.