Four Dead, Five Critical As Five-Storey PG Building Collapses In Satya Niketan; 11 Rescued
Four people died in the Satya Niketan collapse, those admitted in hospital are extremely serious critical. Eleven persons were rescued. The building was five storeyed that collapsed. The Delhi health minister is at the accidental spot.
New Delhi, September 6:
Four students have died and eleven others have been rescued after a five-storey building housing a boys’ paying guest accommodation collapsed in Satya Niketan near Delhi University South Campus on Sunday afternoon.
The deceased were students of South Campus colleges staying in the PG named ‘Hostel Daze’ located near Shiv Mandir, Nanakpura Gurdwara. The building collapsed at around 1:30 pm. Delhi Fire Services received a call at 1:33 pm and PCR call at South Campus Police Station at 1:34 pm. Rescue teams reached the spot at 1:50 pm.
According to police and hospital sources, eleven persons have been pulled out from under the rubble so far. Of them, five are extremely serious and critical and are on ventilator support at AIIMS Trauma Centre, while others are injured. One person was brought dead initially, and the toll later rose to four by evening.
Police said the five-storey building, which is around 40-50 years old, had around 15 rooms with two to three students sharing each room at a rent of around Rs 12,000 per bed. Most students are from Kerala, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh studying at Motilal Nehru College, Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College and Sri Venkateswara College. Being Sunday, most inmates were inside at the time of collapse.
Local residents said construction work was going on in the basement where water had accumulated and the foundation was extremely weak. They said the lanes are very congested, making it difficult for rescue vehicles to reach quickly. Locals also joined rescue efforts with bare hands.
Teams of National Disaster Response Force, Delhi Fire Services, Delhi Police, Delhi Disaster Management Authority, Municipal Corporation of Delhi, CATS ambulance, Civil Defence, breathing apparatus and quick response teams are carrying out rescue operations on war footing. Sniffer dogs, victim location cameras and hydraulic cutters are being used. The adjacent building has been vacated as a precaution.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, who tweeted that rescue operations are being carried out on war footing, visited the spot along with Lieutenant Governor Taranjeet Sandhu and Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar. Delhi Health Minister Dr. Pankaj Kumar Singh is at the accidental spot and at AIIMS Trauma Centre to coordinate medical assistance. BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj and RK Puram MLA Anil Kumar Sharma are also at the site.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed grief and said he spoke to the Chief Minister, Police Commissioner and NDRF Director General. He said the injured are being given all necessary medical assistance.
Delhi Police said the exact number of persons trapped is still not known and an FIR is being registered. Seven to eight teams have been formed to trace the building owner who is based in Gurugram. Further details are awaited as rescue operations continue.
