Emergency teams carry out rescue operations at the Satya Niketan collapse site following the fatal building accident in Delhi (Img: X)
New Delhi: The death toll in the tragic Satya Niketan PG building collapse in Delhi has climbed to seven, as authorities continue their investigation into the incident. Delhi Police have launched a major search operation for the building owner, Hariram Bansal, and formed 10 teams to trace and arrest him.
The five-storey paying guest accommodation collapsed on Sunday in the Satya Niketan area, triggering a massive rescue operation. Several people were pulled out from the debris, while many injured victims were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment.
According to officials, Hariram Bansal has been named in the FIR registered after the collapse. Police teams are conducting raids and gathering information to locate him. Investigators are also examining the role of people associated with the property and the circumstances that led to the collapse.
The case has been registered under relevant sections related to negligence, endangering human life and other offences. A detailed probe is underway to identify those responsible for the tragedy.
The rescue operation involved teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Delhi Fire Services, Delhi Police, Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and other agencies.
Rescue workers searched through the rubble for survivors for several hours after the structure came crashing down. Officials said the operation was carried out on priority to locate and save those trapped inside.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta visited the collapse site and reviewed the ongoing rescue efforts. She assured that strict action would be taken against anyone found responsible for negligence.
She also directed officials to inspect unsafe buildings across the city and take necessary action against structures violating safety norms.
Preliminary investigations suggest that construction or repair work was being carried out in the basement before the collapse. Officials are examining whether unauthorised work, structural weakness or other factors contributed to the disaster.
The authorities are now focusing on determining the exact cause of the collapse and fixing accountability for one of Delhi’s deadliest building accidents in recent times.
