The Delhi government has decided to demolish a building next to the collapsed paying guest accommodation in Satya Niketan after it was declared unsafe, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said on Tuesday.
Gupta made the announcement while speaking to reporters after visiting the injured victims of the Satya Niketan building collapse at AIIMS.
“There is a building right next door — that building is dangerous; it has been declared unsafe. It is scheduled to be demolished tomorrow,” she said.
The decision comes a day after a five-storey building housing a boys’ PG accommodation collapsed in the congested Satya Niketan area near Delhi University’s South Campus.
At least seven people were killed in the collapse, while 12 people were rescued, according to Delhi Police.
CM visits injured victims at AIIMS
Gupta visited AIIMS to meet students injured in the collapse and spoke to their families.
The chief minister said the Delhi government would provide the best possible medical treatment to those injured and extend financial assistance to the families of the victims.
“Considering the situation, we have assured them that the best possible medical care will be provided and that the government will offer full support and assistance,” Gupta said.
She added that the government would bear the full cost of treatment for those injured in the incident.
Seven killed in Satya Niketan collapse
The building collapse has raised serious concerns over construction and building safety in the densely populated student accommodation hub.
Police said construction work was underway in the basement before the structure collapsed. The FIR registered against the building owner also alleges that four floors were illegally constructed.
Investigators are now examining the circumstances that preceded the collapse, including the construction activity and alleged building violations.
The PG owner and his wife have been sent to judicial custody, while their son was sent to police remand, according to the latest police action.
Neighbouring buildings under scrutiny
The decision to demolish the adjacent unsafe structure highlights concerns about the safety of other buildings in the area.
With hundreds of students living in PG accommodations and rented properties around Delhi University, the incident has renewed calls for stricter inspections and enforcement of building safety norms.
The immediate priority for authorities is to ensure that another structure does not meet the same fate.
But the larger question remains: how many unsafe buildings are still being occupied, and will authorities identify them before another tragedy occurs?
For the families mourning the seven victims of the Satya Niketan collapse, however, the announcement comes too late.
The demolition of an unsafe neighbouring building may prevent another disaster — but the investigation into why the original structure collapsed must still establish whether warnings, violations or safety lapses were overlooked.
