Education Minister speaks to Delhi CM, prays for those trapped in Satya Niketan

Union Education Minsiter Prahlad Joshi said he spoke to Rekha Gupta after a private building collapsed in Satya Niketan. The incident has intensified calls for a probe and safety checks of student PG accommodation.Union Education Minister Prahlad Joshi on Sunday said he had spoken to Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta following the collapse of a private building in Satya Niketan near Delhi University’s South Campus.In a post on X, Joshi said Gupta was personally monitoring the situation and had assured him that rescue and relief measures were being carried out.Joshi said he was praying for the safety of those feared trapped and wished those injured a speedy recovery.The five-storey building, known locally as Hostel Daze, collapsed in Satya Niketan on Sunday afternoon. Several students were feared trapped under the debris. Police said a PCR call was received at 1.34 pm, following which eight fire tenders and multiple rescue teams were sent to the site.Residents said they rushed to the spot and helped remove debris with their bare hands and whatever tools were available. One resident told PTI that the collapse was preceded by what felt like a tremor.“We felt a slight tremor in our house. It felt like the ground shook, like an earthquake. We ran outside,” the resident said.Residents also said construction work was being carried out in the basement of the building before the collapse. These claims have not been independently verified.STUDENT GROUPS DEMAND PROBEThe collapse has also triggered calls for an investigation and safety checks of private PG accommodations in Delhi.The National Democratic Teachers' Front, ABVP, NSUI and Students' Federation of India have called for a probe into the incident and a safety audit of student housing.The ABVP said its volunteers were assisting with rescue operations and called for more rescue personnel, ambulances, medical assistance and specialised equipment.ABVP national general secretary Virendra Singh Solanki demanded a high-level probe and action against those responsible for alleged safety violations.The SFI also called for government intervention to regulate private PG accommodations and raised concerns over overcrowding, poor sanitation and a lack of formal rental arrangements in student areas.- EndsPublished On: Sep 6, 2026 20:01 IST