Archive · 7 Sep 2026
Satya Niketan Collapse Toll Reaches Seven as Owner Sought
A five-storey building in Delhi’s Satya Niketan area collapsed while renovation work was reportedly underway.
Seven people have died and 12 people were rescued.
Police are searching for the building’s owner, Hariram Bansal.
Ten police teams are looking for him in Delhi and nearby states.
The government has ordered inspections of nearby hostels and buildings.
Illegal five-storey buildings may be sealed.
Some nearby hostels were evacuated after cracks appeared in their walls.
Congress says officials should also be held responsible.
The BJP says the focus should remain on rescue work and the investigation.
The death toll in the Satya Niketan building collapse rose to seven, while 12 people were rescued.
Delhi Police formed 10 teams to find owner Hariram Bansal across Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
The Delhi government ordered inspections of nearby paying guest accommodations and sealing of illegal five-storey buildings.
Nearby hostels were evacuated after cracks appeared, while the Delhi High Court prepared to hear the matter.
Congress blamed civic and police authorities, while the BJP said the Opposition was politicising the rescue operation.
- Who
- Seven people died, 12 were rescued, and police are searching for building owner Hariram Bansal. Delhi government officials, police, Congress and BJP representatives are involved in the response and debate.
- What
- A five-storey building used as a boys’ paying guest accommodation collapsed, prompting a rescue operation, an investigation and action against allegedly illegal buildings.
- When
- The death toll reached seven on Monday, when the government announced inspections and police expanded the search for the owner.
- Where
- The collapse occurred in Satya Niketan, Delhi; police searches are also taking place in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
- Why
- Authorities are investigating whether renovation work and possible safety or regulatory lapses contributed to the collapse.
Congress and Opposition View
BJP View
Who should be held responsible
Congress and Opposition View
Congress MP Pramod Tiwari said responsibility should extend beyond the building owner to civic and police authorities that allegedly allowed construction work while students were staying inside.
BJP View
BJP MLA Anil Sharma said officials of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi would face action if an investigation found them responsible, while also pointing to mistakes during repair work.
How to describe the incident
Congress and Opposition View
Tiwari called the collapse a “planned murder” and said it should not be treated merely as an accident.
BJP View
Sharma rejected the Opposition’s attack as political and said attention should remain on rescue operations and action against those found responsible.
- Death toll
- Seven people
- People rescued
- 12
- Police search teams
- 10 teams, each headed by an Additional DCP-rank officer
- Building use
- Boys’ paying guest accommodation known as ‘Hostel Daze’
- Owner sought
- Hariram Bansal, who remains untraceable
- Government action
- Inspections of nearby paying guest accommodations and sealing of illegal five-storey buildings
- Legal development
- The Delhi High Court is set to hear the matter