- Five-storey PG building collapsed in Satya Niketan in Delhi.
- Three dead, five critically injured; rescue operations ongoing.
- Residents blame waterlogging, poor maintenance, lack of inspections.
A five-storey building housing a paying guest (PG) accommodation collapsed in southwest Delhi's Satya Niketan area on Sunday afternoon, killing three people and leaving five of the nine rescued in critical condition. Locals claimed that between 30 and 50 people could have been inside the building when it collapsed, while authorities did not give an official figure.
The five-storey building is 50-year-old which housed a boys' PG in a congested lane near Delhi University's South Campus, collapsed at around 1:30 pm, triggering a massive rescue operation involving the Delhi Police, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Delhi Fire Service and Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA).
Residents said repair and construction work was underway in the basement of the building when the structure came down. They also claimed that water had accumulated in the basement following two days of incessant rain, allegedly weakening the building's foundation. Several vehicles were also trapped under the rubble.
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Two NDRF teams comprising 70 personnel, along with a canine squad, were deployed to search for survivors. Oxygen cylinders were dropped beneath the debris to help those trapped breathe, an NDRF officer said. Fire tenders and CATS ambulances were also deployed at the site.
Residents blame waterlogging, construction
The collapse brought renewed attention to the longstanding waterlogging and construction-related concerns in the densely populated locality.
Residents alleged that unchecked construction, poor maintenance and "apathy" by property owners and civic authorities had left several buildings in the area vulnerable.
The area had received incessant rain over the previous two days, with residents saying its sloping terrain often resulted in water remaining stagnant for long periods.
Locals also claimed that an MCD office was located next to the collapsed building.
They said a building under construction in a lane behind the collapsed structure, which was reportedly intended to be used as a girls' PG, had collapsed around two years ago and had remained in the same condition since then.
Residents alleged that water had accumulated in the basement of the collapsed building, where labourers were working despite the rain.
"Labourers were working in the basement even during the rain. Waterlogging is common in the basements of buildings here, and they could also be trapped," a local said.
According to residents, the collapsed structure had a basement and five upper floors. Boys stayed in rooms on the first and second floors, while girls stayed on the third floor. The ground floor housed a mess and construction work was underway in the basement, they said.
The allegations could not be independently verified immediately.
'Around 30 people could still be trapped'
Ram, a UPSC aspirant who had gone to a nearby laundry shop to collect his clothes, said there was panic in the locality following the collapse.
"We have been told around 30 people could still be trapped. I heard a loud rumbling sound and immediately ran towards the spot. Police officials arrived soon after," he said.
Ram also alleged that debris in the area was not being cleared properly.
Residents further alleged that the Municipal Corporation of Delhi did not conduct regular inspections of buildings in the locality.
Another resident, Priyanka, who said she had been living in the area for 20-22 years, alleged that several properties in Satya Niketan had been converted into PG accommodations, with many owners living elsewhere.
"Buildings here are being constructed up to five-six floors. Many houses have been converted into boys' PGs, with the owners shifting elsewhere. They simply name the properties as PGs, take the rent online and leave the area without even checking back," she said.
"I have not seen any maintenance work being carried out. The whole of Satya Niketan is full of PGs. Hardly 30 per cent of the house owners actually live here," she added.
"Even the gutters and sewers here are open. There were many students trapped inside the building. Since it was raining, most of them were in their rooms, while some had gone home as it was the weekend," Priyanka said.
A local said the owner of the collapsed building was Hari Ram Bansal, who now lives in Gurugram and had moved there from Satya Niketan around 20 years ago.
"Some work was going on in the basement and a wall was being removed. Bansal keeps visiting the property," he said.
Another resident said the building had around 15 rooms, with two to three students staying in each room.
"The hostel was always full. So many people could still be trapped under the debris. The lanes are very congested, so it was difficult for rescue vehicles to arrive at the scene faster," he said.
An eyewitness said the casualty figure could have been higher had the collapse occurred on a working day, as many students had returned home for the weekend.
Student among injured
Sunny Dedha said his friend Shantanu, an evening student at Motilal Nehru College, was sleeping inside the PG when the building collapsed.
"He is critically injured and has been admitted to the Trauma Centre. I got a call from my friend about half an hour ago and rushed here immediately," said Dedha, who completed his graduation from Dyal Singh College and is currently pursuing an MA in Buddhist Studies. Shantanu is from Churu in Rajasthan.
Police said a PCR call regarding the collapse was received at South Campus police station at 1.34 pm. Teams from the Delhi Police, NDRF, Delhi Fire Service and DDMA, along with fire tenders and CATS ambulances, reached the spot and launched rescue operations.
Police later said three people had died and that five of the nine people rescued were in critical condition.
The rescue operation continued as teams searched the debris for any survivors. The exact number of people who may have been trapped inside the building remained unclear.
( With PTI inputs )