Delhi building collapse death toll reaches 7; High Court orders PG safety audit

The death toll in the collapse of a building housing students in Satya Niketan, Delhi, rose to seven on Monday. The Delhi High Court has directed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to inspect all paying guest (PG) hostels in the city within a week, expressing serious concern over student safety in such accommodations.

The building collapsed on the night of August 3, triggering a rescue operation that lasted 28 hours. According to the AIIMS Trauma Centre, 12 injured people were brought in; six were declared dead on arrival, and one more died later. Three people remain in critical condition, one is stable, and one was discharged on Sunday. Three others admitted to Safdarjung Hospital are stable. The rescue work was declared complete at 5 p.m. on Monday, with officials saying the debris had been fully removed.

Delhi Police have arrested Hariram Gupta, 82, a retired Indian Air Force sergeant, his wife Urmila Gupta, 75, and their son Mahesh Gupta, 52. The property is in Urmila Gupta’s name, but police said the PG was allegedly run by her husband and son. Authorities are also searching for the PG operators and the labour contractors who were carrying out basement repairs. Deputy Commissioner of Police (South West) Amit Goel said their roles would be examined and appropriate action taken.

Five MCD officials were suspended after the collapse, as the civic body is responsible for issuing PG licences and enforcing building norms. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the government is considering a policy to regulate buildings used for multiple purposes, including PG accommodations.

In the Delhi High Court, a bench of Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia said the deaths raised serious concerns about the safety of students in PGs and the acute shortage of hostels for outstation students. The court directed the MCD to verify whether PG buildings were constructed with valid permissions, comply with building bye-laws, and check for violations. It also said responsibility for the incident could not, prima facie, be limited to the property owner, and the role of university authorities and the MCD required examination.

The bench observed that such PGs are “not only very dangerous, they are causing threat to the lives, security to these students.” It emphasised the need for greater hostel capacity and directed Delhi University to provide data on the number of outstation students enrolled in its affiliated colleges and the capacity of hostels run by the university or the government. The court also asked for details of any statutory provisions governing PG accommodations, stressing the need for a regulatory framework.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta assured the court that the government was closely monitoring the situation and that no stone would be left unturned in the rescue operations. The case is next listed for hearing on September 25.

The students who died were from Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh. The incident has brought attention to the widespread use of unregulated PG accommodations and the shortage of affordable, safe housing for students coming to Delhi from across the country. The High Court’s order for a citywide inspection within a week is an initial measure to address these systemic issues, with further action expected as investigations continue.