‘No forms, no questions – just come’: Good Samaritan’s offer to displaced students after Satya Niketan building collapse | Today’s news

A Gurgaon-based non-profit organization has stepped in to help students struggling to find accommodation after a deadly building collapse in Delhi’s Satya Niketan area.

Harteerath Singh Ahluwalia of Hemkunt Foundation said Gurdwara Moti Bagh is ready to provide shelter and food to students affected by the tragedy.

“The building collapse at Satya Niketan, Delhi has left students looking for accommodation. If that’s you – Gurdwara Moti Bagh is waiting for a bed and a hot meal. No forms, no questions – just come!” Ahluwalia wrote on social media platform X.

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The Hemkunt Foundation, headed by Harteerath Singh Ahluwalia, is providing shelter and food to students affected by the collapse of the Satya Niketan building at Gurdwara Moti Bagh, without any forms or questions being asked.

The collapse of boys’ PG accommodation at Satya Niketan has raised concerns about the structural safety and regulation of student housing, particularly in light of reports of high rents and cramped living quarters.

The Delhi government is stepping up safety inspections of PG accommodation, working on regulatory frameworks for such housing and ordered structural audits after the collapse.

Police arrested the property owner and her family members and charged them with manslaughter and negligence for running the PG accommodation without ensuring its structural safety.

In light of the recent tragedy and ongoing safety concerns, students should carefully consider the risks of staying in private PG accommodation and explore safer housing options.

A volunteer offers shelter to displaced students

The offer comes at a time when several Delhi University students living in paying guest accommodation in and around Satya Niketan are facing uncertainty following the collapse.

A five-storey building housing a boys’ hostel near Delhi University’s South Campus collapsed on Sunday afternoon, killing seven people and injuring several others.

The tragedy also raised broader concerns about the safety of student housing in the densely populated South Campus neighborhood.

Students face uncertainty about accommodation

Several students expressed concerns about cramped living quarters, high rents and the structural safety of PG buildings in the area.

Students said rent can vary from neighborhood to neighborhood ₹12,000 up to ₹13,000 or more, although the rooms are often small and lack basic amenities.

Some residents have also reportedly been asked to vacate their accommodation following the collapse, adding to the insecurity of students who have limited hostel options.

The focus shifts to long-term security

The Satya Niketan collapse has intensified calls for stronger regulation of PG accommodation in Delhi.

The Delhi government is working on a proposed framework that includes mandatory operating licenses, police and municipal verification, CCTV cameras, visitor registers and security requirements for larger PGs.

The government has also proposed regular structural audits and safety certifications for buildings used for public activities, including PG accommodation.

Arrest in case of collapse

Police arrested property owner Urmila Gupta, 75, her husband Hariram Gupta, 81, a retired Indian Air Force sergeant, and their 52-year-old son Mahesh Gupta.

The accused were charged with including culpable homicide, negligence in building maintenance and endangering the safety of others.

Police said Hariram and Mahesh allegedly ran the PG while Urmila was the property owner.

A labor contractor, identified as Sanoj, was also detained in Kasganj in Uttar Pradesh and produced for questioning.

The building was being repaired

During interrogation, Mahesh allegedly told the police that he was responsible for maintaining the building on behalf of his parents.

He said the property was leased to PG operators ‘Hostel Daze’ in August 2025.

Police said the building was undergoing extensive repairs when it collapsed. The basement was reportedly being repaired after garbage piled up during the monsoon, while renovation work on a commercial extension was underway on the ground floor.

After learning about the collapse, the family reportedly fled their home and went to Mahesh’s in-laws’ house in Bhiwadi, Rajasthan, fearing legal action.

Supreme Court to examine pan-India issue

The Supreme Court said it will look into the issue of PG building collapse and related safety issues on an all-India basis after the Satya Niketan tragedy.

A bench of Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and R Mahadevan posted the matter for hearing on Thursday.

Senior advocate Ajit Sinha, the court-appointed amicus curiae in an earlier case relating to compliance with regulatory guidelines for illegal buildings and structures, referred to the issue.

Sinha pointed out that Satya Niketan witnessed another building collapse in April 2022, in which two people died and four were injured.

The repeated occurrence has raised questions about the effectiveness of inspections, identification of unsafe structures and enforcement of building codes.

How Hemkunt’s Harteerath Singh Ahluwalia Foundation Strengthened During Crises

Harteerath Singh Ahluwalia and the Hemkunt Foundation have repeatedly offered shelter, food and emergency support, from providing beds for flood-affected Nepalese hospitals to helping stranded students get home without asking for anything in return.

The foundation has also been involved in helping students stranded after the recent Jantar Mantar protests.

In one post, Ahluwalia said the organization booked 140 train tickets that helped students travel to 10 states and cover more than 30,000 km.

The farthest funded route was from Delhi to Kerala, covering 2,850 km. The foundation said the average time between application and payment was less than five minutes.

” ₹asked in return 0. No forms. Just a WhatsApp number,” wrote Ahluwalia.

Gurdwaras opened their doors after protests

The foundation also directed stranded students to a gurdwara across Delhi after the protest site was cleared.

Ahluwalia listed Gurdwara Bangla Sahib, Rakab Ganj Sahib, Sis Ganj Sahib and other gurdwaras as places where students could find a place to sleep.

He said the doors were open with “no questions asked” and that the organization never turned anyone away at the door.

A similar effort was made during the student protest in Ranchi, where two gurdwaras were opened overnight for people who needed shelter, food or a safe place to sit.

Read also | Satya Niketan Building Collapse: Delhi CM’s Major Update | Watch

Relief work extended to flood-hit Assam

The foundation also highlighted relief efforts during the Assam floods.

According to Ahluwalia, gurdwaras across the state opened their doors to flood-affected families and provided them with free food, shelter and medicine.

He described the effort as a commitment by the Sikh community to stand by those affected by the disaster.

Emergency aid has arrived in Nepal

The foundation’s relief activities have also expanded beyond the borders of India.

After the major disaster in Nepal, Ahluwalia said Hemkunt Foundation teams were at the airport loading relief material before traveling to the affected area.

In another update from Nepal, he said the team visited a hospital where patients were lying on the floor due to a lack of beds.

The foundation brought beds and bedding to the hospital.

Another post showed the organization’s teams helping families whose homes were destroyed in Nepal.

Ahluwalia said volunteers entered damaged houses to retrieve items that could still be salvaged.

He focused, he said, on recovering “everything that is still valuable, that is still important to these families.”

Read also | Delhi building collapse: PG owner, wife sent to judicial custody