Satya Niketan collapse: Delhi govt mandates safety audits for PGs, schools, and hospitals
New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta stated Monday that the state government, in partnership with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), is drafting a framework mandating routine structural audits and safety clearances for all commercial and public-use properties, including paying guest (PG) lodgings, nursing homes, and educational institutions, warning that non-compliant premises will be barred from operating.
Her comments followed a visit to the site of the Satya Niketan building collapse, which has claimed six lives.
Speaking to journalists, CM Gupta said, "The government, in collaboration with the Municipal Corporation, is formulating a policy mandating that any building intended for public use, whether a PG, nursing home, school, or any other facility, must undergo periodic structural audits and safety certifications; otherwise, no public activity will be permitted there."
"We will not allow anyone to reside in unsafe PGs. We have arranged accommodation in college hostels for those evacuated from the building, and the government is ensuring their needs are met. We are in contact with the parents of the students affected by this tragedy and are providing them with full support to alleviate their distress. Regarding government officials whose oversight, negligence, or other lapses contributed to this situation, strict action will be taken against them this very day; no one will be spared," she added.
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Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa echoed the Chief Minister's findings regarding the structural failure. "The information received so far indicates that while this building was 40-50 years old, attempts were made to carry out work in its basement, which triggered this accident. The Chief Minister stated yesterday itself that strict action would be taken regarding the issues raised," he told reporters.
Sirsa noted that an adjacent building at the location, also 40 to 50 years old, has been evacuated and designated for demolition, though immediate razing is not currently feasible due to structural instability and unassessed conditions beneath the rubble.
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"The NDRF team is continuously engaged in the operation. You can see that this situation involves a high degree of sensitivity because the building visible in the background is also 40–50 years old. It poses a major challenge for the NDRF to ensure no damage occurs to the adjacent building while clearing the debris from below and checking for any further casualties. However, the NDRF is a highly capable force; I have gathered information and spoken with the NDRF chief. The adjacent building will definitely be demolished—it has already been evacuated and is slated for demolition. But the challenge right now is that the structure is currently unstable; we do not yet know the condition beneath the accumulated debris, so it cannot be demolished immediately," Sirsa said.
Chief Minister Gupta revisited the scene on Monday to consult with National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) commanders regarding ongoing rescue efforts and debris clearance. Search operations remain active at the site.
The MCD issued a demolition order on Sunday for Property No. 13 in Satya Niketan, giving a three-day deadline whilst citing its "ruinous/dangerous condition" and threat to public safety.
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The incident has sparked widespread outrage over structural safety and building regulation enforcement. Student groups, including the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and the National Students' Union of India (NSUI), staged demonstrations across the capital on Monday, demanding accountability and punitive action against responsible authorities.
NSUI President Vinod Jakhar alleged significant lapses in the emergency response, questioning official preparedness and attributing the failure to a lack of disaster management planning, equipment, and trained personnel.
ANI