‘Students far from safe’: DU hostel crisis in spotlight again after 6 die in Satya Niketan PG collapse | Today’s news
Shortage of hostel accommodation for Delhi University students is again in the limelight after the tragic collapse of the Paying Guest (PG) accommodation for boys in the Satya Niketan area claimed six lives.
According to news agency PTI, six people died and 11 others were rescued from the rubble of a 50-year-old multi-storied building near Delhi University’s South Campus. The building collapsed on Sunday around 1:30 p.m.
Residents said that most of the students staying in the locality came from Kerala, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh and studied mainly at Motilal Nehru College, Atma Ram Sanatan Dharm College and Sri Venkateswara College, all of which are located across the road.
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The collapse of the building at Satya Niketan was reportedly triggered by the accumulation of water in the basement combined with ongoing repairs that may have weakened the structure.
Several students were affected by the collapse, six deaths were reported and several others were rescued from the rubble during the incident at the PG boys’ accommodation.
Despite having more than 3 million students, Delhi University provides hostel accommodation to only about 4,000 students, forcing many to live in expensive and potentially dangerous PGs.
Following the incident, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi ordered the sealing of all illegal buildings above four floors and promised strict action against the officials responsible.
Yes, students living in paying accommodation should be concerned about their safety, as many such buildings violate building codes and lack proper maintenance, as the recent collapse highlighted.
Students, political leaders and social media users questioned why the central university, which has over 3 million students, has hostel accommodation for only about 4,000. Several student unions were also seen protesting for better hostel facilities after the building collapsed.
Read also | Satya Niketan PG collapse: Delhi to close all illegal buildings above 4 floors
“Students are far from safe”
Reacting to the Satya Niketan PG collapse, Rajya Sabha MP and senior advocate Kapil Sibal said that students are not safe if they are accommodated in neighborhoods with illegal PGs, hostels and buildings that violate norms.
“When a university lacks hostel facilities and you have accommodated students in that area and then the roof collapses, the students are far from safe,” Sibal told ANI. “It’s really annoying…”
Meanwhile, Delhi AAP president Saurabh Bharadwaj said the party’s student wing is protesting at several places to demand students’ right to accommodation.
“It is not the AAP that is staging the protest, rather the students are protesting at different places. The student wing of the AAP is present here,” Bharadwaj said, adding that they have only two demands. — “There should be PG accommodation for students. Until the hostels are built, the government should pay the PG fees itself.”
“Delhi University is a central university. All the land belongs to the central government of Delhi. You are doing things for everyone else, but until you build hostels for them, this harassment and exploitation will continue,” the AAP leader added.
Read also | The collapse of a building in Delhi was “like an earthquake”, according to eyewitnesses.
“Colleges keep increasing seats but not hostel facilities”
A social media user pointed out that colleges under Delhi University add seats to their courses every year. However, the dormitory facilities were not increased in tandem or at all.
“…this is a much bigger issue around DU. Colleges keep increasing seats but hostel facilities are not growing with them,” said a user. She noted that students end up paying insane rents for nearby PGs as no one wants to travel for hours every day.
“PG owners are keeping the building floor by floor wanting more rent without caring about basic security. Everything is running in the black, rent is taken in cash and even my aunt PG used to take rent and electricity bill only in cash,” the user pointed out.
“Students come to Delhi thinking that DU is affordable, but end up paying huge rents to live in potentially dangerous buildings,” she noted. “Students should not risk their lives just to study at DU.
At the site of the collapse, a frustrated student told reporters that students are forced to stay in such illegal buildings “because there are not enough hostels”.
He pointed out that Delhi University has around 3 million students, but hostels are available for only about 4,000. “Why are students ending up in unauthorized buildings? Because there are not enough hostels. Why is the BJP government not building more hostels? Ask the government that question,” the student said.
Read also | Several feared trapped in Delhi building collapse Satya Niketan — Video
Before the news of the collapse of the Satya Niketan building was reported, the Students Federation of India (SFI) released a video highlighting the hostel problem.
“Hostels are a rarity at DU! Stanzin’s fight is for all those students who are forced to live in filthy conditions. Hostels are a right and should be enforced!” SFI wrote in the X caption.
Delhi Traffic Police asks commuters to avoid stretches to help rescue and rescue operations
The Delhi Traffic Police on Monday issued a traffic advisory saying traffic movement has been affected on several key routes to aid rescue and relief operations at the site of the Satya Niketan building collapse.
“Rescue and relief operations are underway after a building collapsed at Satya Niketan Market in South Campus,” the traffic police said. “Emergency teams are on site.
Traffic movement is affected on routes from Safdarjung Hospital towards Dhaula Kuan, RTR, Benito Juarez Marg. “AVOID THESE SPREADS IF POSSIBLE.”
Commuters have been asked by traffic staff to use alternate routes and follow their directions. “Please do not stop, park or fight near the accident scene. Keep the road clear for ambulances and emergency vehicles. Your cooperation can help save lives.”
