The death toll in the Satya Niketan building collapse rose to seven on Monday, with Delhi Police saying 12 people had been rescued so far, as the search for the owner of the five-storey structure widened across Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
Ten police teams have been formed to trace building owner Hariram Bansal, who remains untraceable. A Look Out Circular (LOC) has also been issued against him.
The collapse has now set off action on several fronts. The Delhi government has ordered inspections of nearby paying guest accommodations and a crackdown on illegal five-storey buildings. The Delhi High Court is set to hear a petition over the tragedy, while the incident has also sparked a fierce political row.
10 police teams hunt Satya Niketan building owner
The teams searching for Bansal include personnel from the local district police, Special Staff, and other operational units. Each is headed by an Additional DCP-rank officer.
Police are conducting raids across Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. Bansal has a residence in Gurugram but has not been traced.
An FIR has been registered against the building owner and others. The structure, known as ‘Hostel Daze’, was being used as a boys’ PG accommodation.
Renovation work was allegedly underway when the building collapsed. Authorities are investigating the circumstances leading to the disaster and fixing responsibility.
Delhi orders inspections, sealing of illegal buildings
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta revisited the collapse site on Monday to review the rescue operation and safety measures.
The government has directed intensive inspections of PG accommodations and other buildings in the neighbourhood. Buildings found violating norms are to be sealed.
Directions have also been issued for the immediate sealing of illegal five-storey buildings across Delhi.
According to the Chief Minister’s Office, action will be taken against Municipal Corporation of Delhi officials if lapses are established.
“The Chief Minister made it clear that there would be no compromise on the safety of Delhi’s residents and that no one would be spared in cases of negligence,” the CMO said.
Iron jacks have been installed to support structures near the collapse site.
Nearby hostels evacuated after cracks appear
The collapse has also forced evacuations from buildings in the vicinity amid fears over their structural safety.
Vishal, a student staying at a nearby hostel, said adjoining buildings were evacuated after cracks appeared. A girls’ hostel was among those cleared.
“This was done simply because cracks had appeared in them as well. Colleges had opened up their facilities for accommodation, and food was available too. Most students living in hostels have gone to stay with either relatives or friends,” he said.
Delhi High Court to hear Satya Niketan collapse matter
The Delhi High Court is set to take up the matter after it was urgently mentioned before the Chief Justice on Monday.
Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu has also called a high-level meeting on the collapse. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and senior officials from the DDA, MCD and Delhi Police are expected to attend.
Congress calls collapse ‘planned murder’
The mounting death toll has, meanwhile, sharpened the political confrontation over responsibility for the disaster.
Congress MP Pramod Tiwari alleged that the collapse could not simply be described as an accident and questioned why civic and police authorities had not been named in the FIR.
“Do not call it an accident; this was a planned murder. It was a killing,” Tiwari said.
He alleged that construction work had been allowed to continue even as students were housed in the building as paying guests.
“The biggest crime, and the biggest culprits, are those who allowed construction work to continue on the building while students were being housed there as paying guests,” he said.
Tiwari also questioned whether accountability would extend beyond the building owner.
“Why doesn’t the LG simply read the FIR? There is no mention of the Municipal Corporation, which is responsible, and there is no mention of the police either. So where is the justice?” he said.
BJP hits back, says Opposition ‘doing politics’
BJP MLA Anil Sharma rejected the Opposition’s attack and said the focus should remain on rescue operations and action against those responsible.
“They are doing politics, while we are carrying out rescue operations,” Sharma said.
He said the structure was around 40 to 50 years old and claimed mistakes were made during repair work.
“While carrying out that repair, some mistake occurred on their part. The brunt of that mistake is unfortunately being borne by those poor students,” he said.
Sharma said MCD officials would also face action if they were found responsible for lapses.
“No one can compromise with children’s lives in any manner,” he said.
The BJP MLA also rejected claims that the building had earlier been sealed. He said action would be taken against those found responsible after the investigation.
