Delhi Building Collapse: Deaths rise to 5, PG owner booked; CM orders magisterial probe | As it happened

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has ordered a magisterial inquiry of the incident. "Those found responsible for this grave incident will be held fully accountable and dealt with under the strictest provisions of law," her office said in a statement.

An FIR has been registered by the Delhi Police against the PG owner Hariram and others in connection with the Satya Niketan building collapse.

"A case vide FIR No 153/26 u/s 105/290/125(a) BNS, PS South Campus has been registered against the alleged owner Hariram and others. The building was a PG. It is alleged that renovation work was being undertaken on the Ground Floor, which led to the collapse of the building. Multiple teams have been formed to trace the alleged persons," the Delhi Police said.

Officials have informed that the death count has increased to five. The count is feared to rise as many are still feared trapped under the ruble.

ABVP members had staged a protest outside the MCD Office at Civic Centre over the building collapse in Satya Niketan. They reportedly vandalised the office, after which many were detained by the police. The protesters were demanding the resignation of the MCD Commissioner.

The death count in the building collapse in Delhi Satya Niketan area has increased to four, said officials.

On Satya Niketan building collapse, Union Minister Piyush Goyal said, "this  is a very tragic incident. I express my condolences to the families of those who lost their lives. Rescue operations are underway. I pray to God that everyone is brought out safely and the injured recover quickly. We began our program by expressing our condolences," as reported by news agency ANI.  

On Satya Niketan building collapse, BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj said, "NDRF and all the rescue agencies are making every effort. Our priority is the rescue operation, and fortunately, 11 people have been rescued, a majority of whom are fine. A complete investigation will be undertaken after this operation and the strictest action will be taken against those found guilty."  

The moment at which the multi-storey building collapsed in Delhi's Satya Niketan area was like an earthquake for many which forced people to rush out of their houses, recalled an eyewitness on Sunday, while adding that the structure housed a boys' PG named 'Hostel Daze'. The eyewitness said there was a thick cloud of dust and debris when people rushed outside, realising that the nearby building had collapsed. Read more.

The NDRF is using dogs and taking the inputs from eyewitnesses in the rescue operation. It is also using Collapsed Structure Search And Rescue Equipment and top officials, including DIG (Operations) Satwinder Singh Soodan, remain at spot, supervising the operation.

"NDRF is using breaching and cutting equipment, diamond chain saw, shoring equipment like high strength inflatable bags, hydraulic Jack. Combi cutter, cutters, plasma cutters etc. life detectors and canines are also being used for detection," it said in a statement.

With inputs from Abhay Parashar

Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi spoke with Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and said he praying for the safety of everyone who is trapped and wishing a speedy recovery for those who have been injured.

"Deeply saddened by the news of the private building collapse in Satya Niketan, near Delhi University's South Campus. I have spoken to Delhi Chief Minister Smt. @gupta_rekha ji, who is personally monitoring and has assured me that all necessary rescue and relief measures are being undertaken expeditiously," Joshi wrote on X.

Earlier, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president Nitin Nabin also spoke with Chief Minister Rekha Gupta to assess the situation. "The tragic building collapse in Delhi's Satya Niketan is deeply concerning," he said on X.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta spoke with doctors and health officials at the AIIMS Trauma Centre and took a stock of the health condition of individuals who have been brought here after being rescued from the Satya Niketan building collapse site.  

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta visited the AIIMS Trauma Centre and spoke to doctors and health officials, seeking details about individuals rescued from the Satya Niketan building collapse site.

Quoting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister Office (PMO) said the building collapse in Satya Niketan is distressing, while adding that authorities are working at the site and assisting those affected in the mishap.

"Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. Praying for the speedy recovery of the injured," the PMO quoted PM Modi as saying.

Briefing the media at the spot, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said that the collapsed building was old, and some construction and renovation work was underway. She said some excavation was being carried out in the basement, due to which a pillar shifted and the entire building collapsed. 

"The building was being used as a PG, and children were inside. All agencies are continuously working. Our priority is to save the lives of these children first. The rescue operation will continue in the same manner. All officials are present here, and there will be no shortage of any kind. However, the guilty will not be spared," she said.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has said that no one will be spared, but as of now, the priority remains rescuing those who are still trapped inside the ruble. Gupta is still at the spot where the building collapsed in Satya Niketan earlier in the day.

"11 people have been rescued. I am going to the hospital. We need to understand the condition of all those who have been rescued. I can say this much: whoever is responsible for this, whether it is the building owner or an official, will not be spared," she said.

The Delhi Police has informed that the death count has increased to three, while nine have been rescued till now.

With inputs from Abhay Parashar

Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP and Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha, said on Sunday that the building collapse in Delhi's Satya Niketan was "extremely heartbreaking and alarming", urging the NDRF, Delhi Fire Service, and all other teams to rescue every single student and ensure that the injured are provided the best possible immediate treatment.

In a post on X in Hindi, he also said Congress and NSUI workers are present at the scene and are ready to provide every possible assistance. 

"Students' lives were already filled with struggles—now the situation has turned life-threatening. Due to the lack of good hostels in colleges or universities, students are forced to live in PG accommodations, 40-40 at a time under one roof, in inhumane conditions. Every student's life is precious, and their protection must be ensured under all circumstances," he said.

Union Health Minister JP Nadda spoke with Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and took stock of the situation following the building collapse in Satya Niketan. He assured all possible support from the Ministry of Health and directed the AIIMS Director and Central Government hospitals to provide all necessary support and assistance, reports ANI.

The death count in the Delhi building collapse incident has increased to two, said officials.

Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) Taranjit Singh Sandhu has arrived at the spot where the rescue operation is underway at Satya Niketan.

Officials have said that they have rescued eight people till now, while one person has unfortunately lost their lives. They said the rescue operation could continue till late night.

Speaking to news agency ANI, National Disaster Response Force Inspector General NS Bundela has said that two of NDRF teams are at the spot and are currently engaged in rescue operation. He said two more teams are kept on standby.

"Three victims were rescued shortly after the NDRF reached the spot—one was conscious, while two were unconscious. The NDRF is carrying out relief and rescue operations in close coordination with the State Disaster Response Force, Delhi Fire Service, and other agencies concerned," he said.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta is overseeing the rescue operations ongoing at the building collapse site in Satya Niketan.

The Delhi Police would be registered an FIR in connection with the building collapse in national capital's Satya Niketan area.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah held a telephonic conversation with Chief Minister Rekha Gupta over the building collapse in Delhi's Satya Niketan area. He also spoke with Delhi Police Commissioner and the NDRF director general to assess the situation on the ground.

"The local administration and the NDRF are conducting intensive rescue operations in close coordination. The injured are being provided with all necessary medical assistance. Praying for the speedy recovery of all those injured," he said on X.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has arrived at Satya Niketan where a multi-storey building collapsed earlier in the day.

The Delhi AIIMS has issued a statement said four patients were received at Jai Prakash Narayan Apex Trauma Center following the building collapse. The statement said two people are critical, while one person was brought dead. One was a rescuer and has now been discharged, it added.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Amanatullah Khan has questioned the MCD over the tragedy in Satya Niketan and said officials are acting as if they don't care whether 40 children die or 400, adding that the current situation exists only because of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

"Why shouldn't the Commissioner be held accountable? Why not the Mayor? Why shouldn't the LG be held accountable? Nothing will change until accountability is fixed at the top," he told news agency ANI.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has called off his event in Goa after learning about the building collapse in Delhi’s Satya Niketan. He was scheduled to inaugurate the newly constructed BJP State Office building in Chimbel, Goa, reports ANI.

In a new statement, the Delhi Police said it has found that the building that collapsed in the national capital earlier in the day was 40 to 50 years old and it comprised a basement and five upper floors.

"Repair work was underway in the basement when the incident occurred. So far, six people have been rescued and shifted to hospitals. Search and rescue operations are continuing," the police said.

An eyewitness has warned that a nearby building that houses a girls' PG could also collapse at "any moment". "These buildings are standing like a domino, if one goes down, others could follow. Students travel from far away and it is tragic that they are losing their lives due to faulty infrastructure," he told news agency PTI.

The moment at which the multi-storey building collapsed in Delhi's Satya Niketan area was like an earthquake for many which forced many people to rush out of their houses, recalled an eyewitness on Sunday, while adding that the structure housed a boys' PG named 'Hostel Daze'. 

"The entire building shook as if it were at the epicenter of a major earthquake. We genuinely thought an earthquake had struck. When we walked over to the square and looked from the balcony, everything was covered in a thick cloud of dust and debris. That was when we realised a building nearby had collapsed," he told news agency PTI.

Here's an aerial view of the site where a multi-storey building collapsed in the national capital on Sunday afternoon. As per Delhi Police, the exact number of persons trapped is not known yet.

Congress MP Deepender Singh Hooda has said it is no time for a political blame game and focus should be made on rescuing those who are still trapped under the ruble.

"Questions have been raised earlier over fire safety, building safety, building maps, and the functioning of MCD, NDMC, and other authorities. Whatever government is in power will have to answer. I am here not as a politician but as a former Delhi University student and as a human being. But we will seek answers," he said.

Delhi Mayor Pravesh Wahi has arrived at the spot where a multi-storey building collapsed in the national capital.

"I received information about the incident an hour ago. By then, the ambulance had already arrived. We want the children to be saved. There are many shortcomings in the system, and I accept that. But right now, I request everyone to let the rescue operation continue first," he told reporters. 

According to eyewitnesses, 25 to 30 people are still feared trapped under the ruble. A massive rescue operation now remains underway and top officials are present at the spot.

The building collapse in Delhi's Satya Niketan has claimed the life of a person, while the condition of three others remain critical, as per officials.

According to an eyewitness, more than 15 people may be trapped under the rubble. However, no official statement has been issued in this regard as of now.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Anil Sharma has reached the spot and informed that people are still trapped.

"We are even getting calls from those who are trapped inside. Teams are continuously in touch with those who are trapped inside; we pray to god that all people are safe," he said.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Bansuri Swaraj has arrived at the spot and supervising the rescue operation.

The five-storey building that collapsed on Sunday afternoon was a boys' PG, also known as 'Hostel Daze'. Notably, the area has many student PGs, hostels and eateries.

According to the Delhi Police, the South Campus police station received a PCR call around 1.34 pm regarding the collapse of a building near Nanakpura Gurdwara. Soon, they launched a rescue operation.