A five-storey student hostel, Hostel Daze, collapsed on Sunday in Delhi's Satya Niketan, with eyewitnesses saying up to 50 people were inside. Authorities report at least three dead, three critically injured and eight rescued so far, while rescue operations continue. Basement excavation and weakened pillars are suspected to have contributed, and an adjacent building was evacuated as a precaution. Students' groups have demanded an immediate inquiry and accountability.
Five-Storey Student Hostel Collapses in Delhi's Satya Niketan — Dozens Feared Trapped, Multiple Dead
[Reuters]
A five-storey residential hostel known as Hostel Daze collapsed on Sunday afternoon in the Satya Niketan neighbourhood of south-west Delhi, leaving dozens of students feared trapped and resulting in multiple casualties.
Eyewitnesses told local media that as many as 50 people were inside the building when it gave way at about 13:30 local time (08:00 GMT). Local police and news agencies (PTI, ANI, Reuters) report at least three people have died, three are in critical condition and at least eight have been rescued so far.
Authorities say excavation and construction work was underway in the building's basement to expand the hostel. A nearby shop owner told ANI the property was on a long lease and that the leaseholder had excavated the basement, allegedly weakening the lower pillars even though the upper floors had been reinforced. Construction workers are among those believed to be buried.
Eyewitnesses and a legislative assembly member at the scene said some trapped people had managed to call rescuers from beneath the rubble. Reports also indicate that an adjacent building — reportedly also a hostel — suffered damage and an evacuation of neighbouring structures was carried out as a precaution.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said emergency teams were conducting rescue operations and that "every possible effort is being made to safely rescue those trapped." Delhi Police confirmed the collapsed building was about 40–50 years old, and local media report police are searching for the building owner.
"Negligence with the safety of students and common people will not be tolerated at any cost," said the National Students' Union of India, which has called for an immediate government inquiry and accountability for those responsible.
Satya Niketan is a densely populated student neighbourhood close to Delhi University with multiple hostels. Building collapses are a recurring problem in the city: fire department figures cited in reports indicate more than a thousand collapses in the past three years, causing dozens of deaths. Commonly cited causes include weak foundations, substandard materials and unqualified construction work. Last April, a residential collapse in north-eastern Delhi reportedly killed eleven people, including three children.
Current status: Rescue operations are ongoing as emergency services, Delhi Police and local authorities attempt to locate and extract anyone still trapped under the debris. Further updates are expected as teams continue search-and-rescue efforts and investigations into the cause proceed.
Sources: PTI, ANI, Reuters, Times of India
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