Satya Niketan PG Collapse: 4 Floors Sealed

The collapse of the Satya Niketan PG structure has led to a safety clampdown in Delhi, following the collapse of a multi-story structure that was functioning as a paying guest house in the city on Sunday, September 6.

According to the latest figures, the number of fatalities resulting from this collapse has been estimated at six, while the rescue efforts have been ongoing. This tragedy has resulted in immediate intervention from the government as well as the civic bodies in Delhi, as Chief Minister of the state Rekha Gupta has ordered a magisterial inquiry into this case and the MCD has ordered the sealing of illegal structures above four floors.

What Happened at Satya Niketan?

The building, situated in the area of Satya Niketan where there is a high number of students studying in South Campus, University of Delhi, was functioning as a PG residence for boys when it collapsed around 1:30 pm on Sunday.

According to the reports, there was a basement and five floors above the ground in this building where some students were residing. The search and rescue operation by NDRF, Delhi Fire Service, Delhi Police, and many others was launched to save the people who got trapped under the debris.

This incident has once again raised questions regarding proper inspection of such buildings and the usage of the building according to the plan.

Death Toll Rises to Six

The toll in terms of human life arising from the accident has come to light as the rescue teams have been busy clearing the debris. While initially there were five fatalities, one more casualty was discovered in the night time rescue operation, making the death toll reach six.

Some individuals were rescued and taken to hospitals like AIIMS Trauma Centre. This accident has left behind family members and students wondering about the whereabouts of their relatives/friends who were in the building at the time of its collapse.

The accident has also seen some protests from the students community regarding the safety standards of the private PG buildings near Delhi University.

Why Did the Satya Niketan Building Collapse?

While the exact cause will be confirmed during the investigation process, there have been some issues identified regarding the structure based on preliminary reports.

According to MCD officials, there were violations in the building. Moreover, the reports have mentioned that renovations were taking place at the time of the collapse. There were suspicions concerning water buildup in the basement and the structural integrity of the old building.

One report based on preliminary findings stated that the building was very old and did not have some necessary structural elements, and additional stories and repairs made the building vulnerable to damage. Nevertheless, such issues cannot be considered the official cause at this stage.

The Building Violation Question

One of the most grave problems arising out of this issue is that of the floors.

As per an official statement of MCD quoted in The New Indian Express, permission for construction in that particular locality was restricted to only ground-plus-one, but the collapsed building had four more floors over the ground floor.

This has brought to light the problem of how unauthorized floors continue to be in use, especially when buildings are turned into PG accommodation.

This problem does not arise with just this particular building; there might be many other buildings with similar problems in Delhi.

MCD Orders Sealing of Illegal Buildings Above Four Floors

Following this incident, the MCD has directed the immediate sealing of all illegal constructions having more than four stories.

According to the Mayor of Delhi, Pravesh Wahi, strict action would also be taken against officials who were responsible for these illegal constructions being present. Officials found guilty might have to face severe punishment, which may also include their dismissal.

This has been a very crucial step, in comparison to the previous investigation of only one building. It has become a broad investigation of illegal constructions of Delhi.

However, the most crucial thing for the people will be the extent of implementation of this decision.

CM Rekha Gupta Orders Magisterial Inquiry

Delhi’s Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has asked for a magisterial probe into the Satya Niketan building collapse.

This is in the wake of her visit to the site and after an assessment of the matter. She further directed that an FIR be filed against the building owner and stringent actions would be taken against those responsible for the tragedy.

The probe is likely to look into the background of the collapse of the building.

FIR Registered Against the Owner

Delhi Police have filed a case against the builder and some other people on account of the incident with charges involving culpable homicide and negligence in the maintenance of the structure.

Both the inquiry and police investigation are taking place simultaneously which means that not only the criminal aspect is being looked into but there is also an issue of administrative aspect too.

Reasons why Safety of Students PG has become the Focus of Attention

What has come to the fore through this Satya Niketan accident is the issue of safety of all those buildings that are being used as PGs in Delhi.

Rental housing is common in areas adjacent to famous universities where more than one student is staying in those buildings which were not constructed keeping in view the accommodation of many students.

Construction and fire safety rules need to be followed by the landlords or else there can be a huge risk.

What Happens Next?

The immediate concern is to establish accountability and also determine whether there are other similar unsafe buildings.

An inquiry will be crucial for the reason that it can help to give a full explanation of why the building collapsed and whether warnings, violations, or lack of supervision played any role.

At the same time, the MCD’s drive of sealing can move beyond Satya Niketan to include other illegal multi-storey buildings in Delhi.

In fact, a building near Satya Niketan has already been sealed since it has been

declared unsafe with the occupants advised to vacate while the structure is demolished within three days.

Conclusion

The Satya Niketan PG structure collapse is not simply a case of rescuing and recovering anymore. It is now an opportunity for testing the building safety enforcement process in Delhi.

With six people reported dead, the filing of an FIR against the building’s owner, a magisterial inquiry ordered by the chief minister and the MCD conducting an exercise on unauthorised structures beyond four stories, the authorities are now under the obligation to ensure that they have figured out what went wrong and whether such risks are present in any other place.

What is even more worrying is whether this enforcement process will be done before any tragedy takes place.

The Satya Niketan tragedy has now opened a broader safety enforcement campaign as the question has been raised not only regarding the Satya Niketan structure but also about unauthorised structures and PGs in general.