As rescue teams continued their race against time at the site of the deadly Satya Niketan building collapse, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta returned to the spot to assess the rescue operation and review safety arrangements, promising strict action against those found responsible for the tragedy.
The Chief Minister said nearly 80 per cent of the debris from the decades-old multi-storey building had been cleared as rescue and search operations continued.
According to the Chief Minister, 12 people have so far been recovered from the collapsed structure. Of them, six have died, while the remaining six are in stable condition.
Gupta said the Delhi government was maintaining contact with the parents and families of the affected students and assured them of all possible assistance during the difficult period.
The Chief Minister blamed the incident on the alleged negligence of the building owner, saying strict action would be taken against those responsible.
She also indicated that the government would widen its scrutiny beyond the collapsed structure. Other buildings in the surrounding area that are found to be dangerous will be identified and, where necessary, demolished, she said.
The move comes amid growing concern over the safety of ageing buildings being used for student accommodation and paying guest facilities in densely populated parts of Delhi.
Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said personnel of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) remained continuously engaged in the rescue operation.
Sirsa said Chief Minister Gupta had directed the Chief Secretary and the Municipal Commissioner to take immediate action against officials responsible for the lapse.
According to Sirsa, the Chief Minister has ordered that officials found responsible be suspended immediately and that strict action be initiated against them.
The directions signal that the government intends to examine not only the role of the building owner but also whether any government officials failed to enforce safety and building regulations.
With most of the debris cleared, the authorities are racing to complete the search operation while investigators begin piecing together what led to the collapse.
The tragedy has put the spotlight on the condition of old multi-storey buildings in the capital and the safety of students living in privately operated accommodation.
For the families waiting for answers, the rescue operation is only the beginning. The bigger question now is whether the authorities can establish who ignored the warning signs, why the building was allowed to remain in use and whether the tragedy could have been prevented.
The Delhi government’s decision to identify other dangerous structures could become a crucial test of whether the Satya Niketan collapse results in lasting action—or remains another tragic reminder of Delhi’s ageing and vulnerable buildings.
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