A recent building collapse in Southwest Delhi’s Satya Niketan has triggered a comprehensive investigation into multiple alleged safety and construction violations. The five-storey structure, which housed a paying guest (PG) accommodation, reportedly crumbled on a Sunday, leading authorities to scrutinize a range of potential lapses.
Investigation Focuses on Unapproved Construction and Safety Breaches
Key areas under investigation include the alleged construction of two additional floors without proper permissions. The building, identified as P-14 by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and built in the late 1990s on a 55-square-yard plot, was originally designed with a basement and four floors above ground. Locals report the extra floors were added approximately two years ago, a timeline police are now verifying along with the necessary approvals.
Further concerns involve repair work conducted in the basement and ground floor. Residents had noted visible cracks, dampness, and water accumulation in the building for about a week prior to the collapse, coinciding with ongoing repairs. Investigators are examining whether a structural assessment was performed before these repairs began and if the work itself altered any load-bearing elements, potentially contributing to the structural failure.
Absence of Emergency Exits and PG Operation Compliance
A critical safety lapse being probed is the reported absence of a second exit, which could have provided occupants an escape route during the emergency. Police are also reviewing whether the PG operation adhered to all required rules and safety norms for such accommodations.
The property was reportedly leased last year to an entity named ‘Hostel Daze’ for its paying guest services. The building is owned by three Gurgaon-based brothers – Hari Ram Bansal, Anand Bansal, and Azad Bansal. The investigation will encompass lease arrangements, permissions for running the PG, and overall compliance with safety requirements.
History of Incidents in the Resettlement Colony
The collapsed building had multiple PG rooms, with four rooms on each floor, rented out on a bed-by-bed basis at varying rates. Residents of the 299-house resettlement colony where the incident occurred indicated that this was the fourth such collapse in approximately 15 years. A previous major incident in 2022 tragically resulted in two fatalities, underscoring a persistent concern regarding building safety in the area.