Twelve people have been rescued as authorities investigate the collapse of a five-storey building used as student accommodation.
The confirmed death toll from the Satya Niketan building collapse rose to seven on Monday, while Delhi Police arrested the building’s owner in Bhiwadi, Rajasthan, and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi suspended five officials.
Police said 12 people had been rescued from the debris. Search operations continued at the five-storey structure, which housed a boys’ paying-guest facility near Delhi University’s South Campus and collapsed on Sunday during reported basement renovation work.
Police formed 10 teams to locate owner Hariram. He and others have been booked under provisions concerning culpable homicide, negligent maintenance of a structure and endangerment of public safety. The allegations remain subject to investigation and trial.
The MCD suspended South Zone Deputy Commissioner Rakesh Kumar and four engineering officials pending disciplinary proceedings. Suspension is an interim administrative measure and does not by itself establish individual culpability.
The Delhi government has also ordered a magisterial inquiry. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced inspections and sealing action against buildings with unauthorised additional floors, while the owner of an adjoining structure described as dangerous was directed to demolish it within three days.
Investigators must determine whether unauthorised alterations, accumulated water, structural deterioration or failures of municipal oversight caused or contributed to the collapse. The final casualty accounting and technical findings remained pending.
