Satya Niketan rescue ends after 24 hours, 7 dead: Delhi HC lifts MCD, DU, orders probe — what we know | Today’s news
Rescue operations at the site of the collapsed building in Delhi’s Satya Niketan ended after 24 hours as search and rescue teams combed through the debris to find survivors.
The accident claimed seven lives, authorities said.
Firefighters, police and search and rescue teams continued to search into the second day. Earthmovers were used to remove the debris, while sniffer dogs were brought in to track down those trapped inside.
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The exact cause of the collapse of the Satya Niketan building is still under investigation, but the Delhi High Court has pointed out the negligence of both the University of Delhi and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi in ensuring adequate safety measures.
The Delhi High Court ordered an inquiry to hold both the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and the University of Delhi accountable for their roles in the tragedy, which resulted in seven deaths and raised concerns about the safety of student accommodation.
Authorities are carrying out rescue operations, sealing illegal buildings and launching a city-wide safety audit to identify unsafe structures in response to the Satya Niketan collapse.
Yes, the collapse has raised significant concerns about the safety of accommodation for paying guests, with many allegedly flouting safety standards, leading to heightened calls for better regulations.
The Delhi government has ordered the sealing of illegal buildings, intensified checks on PG hostels and is conducting a comprehensive audit of safety norms in the area to prevent future tragedies.
At least 12 people have been pulled from the rubble, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said, according to the AP. Here is the list of those who died in the tragedy and those who are still admitted at AIIMS New Delhi:
Delhi High Court has stayed DU, MCD
On Monday, the Delhi High Court impeached both the Delhi University (DU) and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), holding these institutions responsible for the tragedy in addition to the owners of the buildings.
Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia pointed out that DU had failed to provide accommodation for its students, forcing them to resort to private paying guest (PG) accommodation, PTI reported.
The court said this while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) related to the collapse.
Read also | Delhi government orders city-wide sealing drive after Satya Niketan building collapse
The court also directed the MCD to conduct a high-level inquiry into the collapse and find out whether the building has the necessary permissions. It also directed the MCD to conduct a comprehensive audit of all facilities for paying guests that come under its jurisdiction.
The authorities were directed to file separate replies to the petition within 10 days and the matter was posted for hearing on September 25.
DU VC asks colleges to expedite hostel projects
Delhi University Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh on Monday asked college principals to review the accommodation facilities of their students and expedite the hostel projects that are currently underway.
“Prof Yogesh Singh said that the aim should be to provide residential facilities to the maximum number of students,” the university said in a statement, according to PTI.
Singh called a meeting of all college principals to discuss the tragedy. All participants observed a two-minute silence to honor the memory of the deceased.
Students demand accountability before the dust settles, political mudslinging ensues
The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) on Monday demanded the resignation of MCD Commissioner Sanjeev Khirwar in the wake of the tragedy. Around 150 to 200 ABVP members gathered at the MCD headquarters on Sunday to protest against the body after the building collapsed.
Members of the KYS student body, along with other left-wing student organizations, took part in a candlelight march to protest the death and demand accountability.
On the other hand, BJP and AAP have been indulging in political bluster over the incident.
Read also | CCTV captures moment of building collapse in Delhi, man narrowly escapes
On X, AAP accused Home Minister Amit Shah of inaugurating the party office in Goa while the building in Delhi collapsed.
“When the Satya Niketan building collapsed in Delhi, Amit Shah-led BJP was busy inaugurating another office in Goa. BJP’s priority is its offices, not student hostels,” X AAP official said in the post.
In response, the BJP reminded the AAP of the alleged ‘Sheeshmahal’ – the official bungalow of former CM Arvind Kejriwal, on which the then Delhi government allegedly spent huge sums.
BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari also said, “BJP MPs and MLAs were on the spot, helping the victims and ensuring that there was no delay in administrative coordination. No one who broke the rule will be spared. This is not an AAP government, this is the BJP: It takes responsibility and acts against the culprits.”
