Sonu Sood urges safer student housing after Delhi collapse

Actor Sonu Sood has called for urgent measures to provide safe and affordable accommodation for students in cities, following the collapse of a building in Delhi's Satya Niketan area that killed seven people.

In a social media post, Sood noted that lakhs of students move to cities every year to pursue their ambitions, but often struggle to find secure housing. He pointed to a stark gap in Delhi, where around seven lakh students are enrolled but hostel capacity is only about 30,000 — meaning just one in 31 students has access to a hostel.

Sood suggested that vacant government land near universities could be used to build or allow safe, affordable student hostels. He also proposed that universities be given additional building permissions to expand on-campus accommodation. "Students get safety. Parents get peace of mind. Universities and governments generate revenue," he wrote, adding that a small policy change could protect a student's biggest dream.

The comments come as authorities investigate the September 6 collapse of a five-storey building in Satya Niketan, which triggered a large rescue operation. Delhi Police said seven people died and 12 were rescued.

In connection with the case, the Duty Magistrate at Patiala House on Monday remanded Mahesh Gupta to two days of police custody. His parents, Hariram Gupta and Urmila Gupta, were remanded to judicial custody. Police said the building's electricity connection was in Hariram Gupta's name, while his son managed the property, which was registered under Urmila Gupta's name.