Seven people died after a five-storey hostel building collapsed in Delhi's Satya Niketan neighbourhood
A five-storey boys' hostel building in the Satya Niketan neighbourhood of southwest Delhi collapsed on Sunday around 1:30 pm local time. The collapse occurred while excavation and repair work was being conducted in the basement of the aging structure, which was at least 50 years old. The incident resulted in seven deaths, including 19-year-old student Arpit, and left several others injured. Rescue teams, including police and firefighters, worked to clear the debris, eventually rescuing at least 12 people from the rubble. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta stated that water accumulation in the basement and ongoing repairs may have caused the collapse. She announced that the government will draft a policy requiring periodic structural audits and safety certificates for public buildings. Following the collapse, police arrested the building owner, Hariram Gupta, and filed a case against him. Authorities also suspended five municipal employees responsible for oversight. A magisterial inquiry has been ordered to determine the cause of the collapse.
Sources
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