Six Dead After Five-Storey Student Hostel Collapses Near Delhi University

At least six people died and 11 others were rescued from the debris after a five-storey residential building collapsed in the Satya Niketan area near Delhi University’s South Campus, according to local police and reports from The Hindu and The Times of India.

According to reports, local authorities received a police control room call at 1.34 pm on Sunday, following the sudden structural failure. Eight fire tenders and multiple rescue teams were immediately dispatched to the site to search for individuals trapped beneath the rubble.

The structure, locally known as Hostel Daze, contained roughly 15 rooms with two to three students sharing each space, according to accounts from area residents. Students typically paid around ₹12,000 per bed. Many of the young adults staying in the vicinity hail from Kerala, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, attending nearby educational institutions including Motilal Nehru College, Atma Ram Sanatan Dharm College, and Sri Venkateswara College.

Active Construction and Weak Foundation Eyed in Collapse

Local residents reported that construction work was actively underway in the building’s basement, where water had reportedly accumulated prior to the incident. Witnesses described feeling a sudden tremor resembling an earthquake as the structure came down with a loud crash during rainy weather on Sunday.

“We felt a slight tremor in our house. It felt like the ground shook, like an earthquake. We ran outside,” local resident Aditya Singh said, adding that neighbours immediately began clearing debris with their bare hands and available tools to reach those trapped inside. Singh noted that the building’s foundation appeared extremely weak.

Another local resident recounted a narrow escape, stating that his son crossed the building on his bike just moments before the collapse occurred. Local accounts highlighted that numerous buildings in the Satya Niketan locality have been constructed up to five or six floors and subsequently converted into private boys’ paying guest accommodations.

Broader Safety Concerns in Student Hubs

Reports note that civic officials’ alleged apathy has allowed unauthorized vertical expansions and unsafe construction practices to persist in repeat mode across Delhi neighborhoods, echoing previous tragedies such as incidents in Saidulajab. Following Sunday’s collapse, rescue operations continued at the site as authorities worked to clear the remaining rubble and account for all missing occupants. Adjacent buildings in the immediate vicinity were also evaluated for structural stability after locals reported that a neighbouring property appeared to be leaning.