After Delhi PG collapse, building next door to be demolished tomorrow, says CM

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced Rs 5 lakh each as financial aid for those injured in the Satya Niketan PG collapse. She also said the adjoining building will be demolished on Wednesday after being declared unsafe by authorities.

In Short

• Seven killed after PG building collapses in Delhi's Satya Niketan
• Rs 5 lakh aid announced for injured, govt to cover treatment costs
• PG owners arrested, five MCD officials suspended for negligence

The building next to the PG accommodation that collapsed and killed seven people in Delhi's Satya Niketan locality will be demolished tomorrow after civic officials found it unsafe, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said on Tuesday.

Gupta also announced Rs 5 lakh in financial aid for people injured in the building collapse and said the Delhi government would bear their entire treatment cost. She met the wounded earlier in the day and handed over cheques to their families at AIIMS Trauma Centre.

Seven people were killed after the decades-old building, housing a boys’ PG known as Hostel Daze, came crashing down in Satya Niketan around 1:30 pm on Sunday. Repair works were underway at the property, which was spread over about 55 square metres, had a basement and four floors above ground.

The adjoining building, which survived the collapse, has been propped up with several iron guardrails across its front, back and centre as a precaution.

An inspection by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi found the structure unsafe. The civic body served the owner a notice describing the premises as being in a "ruinous, dangerous condition" and warning that it posed a threat to people living in, using or passing by the property.

The notice dated September 6, the day of the collapse, gave the owner three days to demolish the building. The MCD warned that it would carry out the demolition itself and recover the cost as tax arrears if the order wasn't followed.

CM Rekha Gupta said the structure would be demolished in a "calibrated, phase-wise manner" to prevent further risk. Buildings in the neighbourhood, which has become a student hub due to affordable housing options and proximity to Delhi University’s South Campus colleges, are packed tighter than sardines.

PG OWNERS ARRESTED, OFFICIALS SUSPENDED

Meanwhile, Delhi Police arrested the PG owners in connection with the building collapse. On Monday, 81-year-old Hariram Gupta, a retired Indian Air Force sergeant, was taken in custody from Rajasthan’s Bhiwadi. His wife Urmila Gupta (75), and their Mahesh Gupta (52) were arrested the same day.

Police initially identified Hariram as the property owner but later said documents showed that Urmila owned the building. Hariram and Mahesh allegedly managed the PG.

The MCD has also suspended five officials over the incident, including South Zone Deputy Commissioner Rakesh Kumar and four engineers.

Following the collapse, the civic body ordered inspections of buildings across Delhi, especially structures suspected of violating height and floor restrictions. Gupta has also directed officials to seal all five-storey structures in the city.

The Delhi High Court has ordered a high-level MCD inquiry into the collapse, saying the government cannot evade responsibility and describing the incident as "most unfortunate".

- Ends