Delhi Orders Inspections, Suspends Officials After Hostel Collapse Kills 7
After a deadly PG collapse in Satya Niketan, Delhi marks 200+ hostels dangerous, suspends officials, and arrests the owner.
In the wake of a building collapse at a paying guest (PG) accommodation in Satya Niketan that killed seven students, Delhi authorities have identified more than 200 private hostels across the city as dangerous or threatening. Officials said these properties, along with all other PG accommodations, will be re-examined as part of an ongoing inquiry.
The building that collapsed was in Vijay Nagar, a congested locality near Delhi University's North Campus. Built in the 1990s, it had a narrow exit and exposed wiring, reflecting the poor state of many private hostels that thousands of students rely on due to limited university housing. Listings for male tenants in the area start at Rs 5,700 per month, while shared rooms in other PGs can cost between Rs 10,000 and Rs 20,000.
Following the incident, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced the suspension of several Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) officials, including the Deputy Commissioner and engineering staff. The building owner has been arrested. Authorities have also ordered the immediate sealing of any structures with unauthorised fifth floors and are conducting thorough inspections of nearby PGs and buildings.
Students, however, say enforcement has been lax for years. One female student in Vijay Nagar said she pays Rs 14,000 rent without electricity, and that power charges are steep. Another student, Aastha, complained of monotonous food and small portions at her Rs 17,000-per-month PG. A third, Nitish, recalled seeing ceiling cracks during an earthquake and said authorities never took complaints seriously.
A broker, speaking anonymously, admitted that middlemen often rent floors and sublet them as PGs without regard for safety. "It's all about making money," he said. Khushi, a Master's student, said she contracted typhoid at a well-known PG due to unclean water, and urged Delhi University to build more hostels like those at JNU and BHU.
Officials say stricter rules are being considered after a meeting of senior officers, but students argue that without affordable, safe alternatives, they will continue to be exposed to risk.