A lookout circular has been issued against the owner of a five-storey paying guest accommodation that collapsed in Delhi’s Satya Niketan, killing seven people, as rescue operations entered their second day on Monday, a total of 12 people have been rescued so far.
Delhi Police have registered an FIR against Hariram Bansal and others in connection with the collapse and are trying to trace the building owner. The case includes charges related to culpable homicide, negligence in maintaining a structure and endangering the safety of others.
The Delhi Police has formed 10 teams to trace the building owner, who remains untraceable,t he teams comprise personnel from the local district police, Special Staff and other operational units, with each team headed by an officer of Additional DCP rank. Police are conducting raids across Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to apprehend Bansal and have also issued a Look Out Circular (LOC) against him.
Bansal has a residence in Gurugram, Haryana, but police have so far been unable to locate him.
The Delhi high court has also agreed to hear a PIL on Monday concerning the collapse of the building. The petition was mentioned before a bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia.
The building, located near Delhi University’s South Campus, collapsed at around 1.30 pm on Sunday while repair and renovation work was reportedly underway in its basement. The structure, known locally as Hostel Daze, was being used as a boys’ PG accommodation and housed students from colleges in the South Campus area.
Rescue teams from the National Disaster Response Force, Delhi Fire Services, Delhi Disaster Management Authority, police and other agencies continued searching through the debris on Monday. At least 11 people had been rescued by the morning, while authorities said they could not yet rule out the possibility of more people being trapped. Officials also raised concerns about an unidentified labourer who may still be under the debris.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta visited the site and said around 80 per cent of the debris had been cleared, with work continuing in the basement area. She said the adjacent building, which had also been found unsafe, had been evacuated and would be demolished after the debris from the collapsed structure was cleared.
The building, located near Delhi University’s South Campus, collapsed at around 1.30 pm on Sunday while repair and renovation work was reportedly underway in its basement. The structure, known locally as Hostel Daze, was being used as a boys’ PG accommodation and housed students from colleges in the South Campus area.
Rescue teams from the National Disaster Response Force, Delhi Fire Services, Delhi Disaster Management Authority, police and other agencies continued searching through the debris on Monday. At least 11 people had been rescued by the morning, while authorities said they could not yet rule out the possibility of more people being trapped. Officials also raised concerns about an unidentified labourer who may still be under the debris.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta visited the site and said around 80 per cent of the debris had been cleared, with work continuing in the basement area. She said the adjacent building, which had also been found unsafe, had been evacuated and would be demolished after the debris from the collapsed structure was cleared.
Gupta also ordered inspections of PG accommodations and other buildings in the surrounding area. The Delhi government is preparing a policy requiring buildings used as PGs, nursing homes, schools and other public establishments to undergo periodic structural audits and obtain safety certification.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu has called a high-level meeting on the collapse, with Gupta and senior officials from the Delhi Development Authority, MCD and Delhi Police expected to attend.
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi has separately ordered the immediate sealing of illegal buildings above four floors, with officials found responsible for negligence facing action.
Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said the unstable condition of the neighbouring building was making the rescue operation particularly difficult. The adjacent structure, which is around four to five decades old, has been evacuated, he said.
“The NDRF team is continuously engaged in the operation,” Sirsa said, adding that rescuers had to clear the debris without causing further damage to the adjoining structure.
The collapse has also disrupted traffic around Satya Niketan, with the Delhi Traffic Police advising commuters to avoid routes connecting Safdarjung Hospital with Dhaula Kuan, RTR and Benito Juarez Marg. People have been asked not to stop or gather near the site so that ambulances and rescue vehicles can move freely.
The incident has raised questions over the safety of ageing buildings in Satya Niketan, a densely populated student hub adjoining Delhi University’s South Campus. The locality has seen many residential properties converted into PG accommodations and private hostels over the years.
(With inputs from PTI, ANI)
