Is our's next? Student near collapsed Delhi PG says she lives in fear

A student living metres from the collapsed PG in Satya Niketan described a night of fear and sleeplessness. Her account has sharpened concerns over the safety and cost of student PG accommodation in the area.The 5-storey PG in Satya Niketan collapsed on Sunday, killing seven people. (PTI Photo)A student living in a PG accommodation just metres away from the building that collapsed in Delhi’s Satya Niketan has described a night of fear, sleeplessness and uncertainty, saying she is now terrified that the building she lives in could also come crashing down.Speaking to India Today TV, the student, who is from Bihar and studies English Honours at Sri Venkateswara College, said she moved to Satya Niketan around two months ago.The student said the collapse of the five-storey PG accommodation, known as Hostel Daze, that killed seven people, left her and several other students in the area deeply traumatised.“I am very scared,” she said, adding that her parents were also extremely worried after learning about the collapse. She said she could barely sleep through the night as rescue operations continued near the collapsed building, with ambulances, Delhi Police and NDRF teams moving in and out of the area.Many students, she said, remained awake through the night, using the flashlights on their mobile phones amid fears about the safety of their own buildings. IS OUR BUILDING NEXT?The student said the narrow lanes and tightly packed buildings around her PG have added to her anxiety.Describing the view from her balcony, she pointed to the extremely small gap between adjoining buildings, tangled electrical wires, balconies, air-conditioning units and pipes hanging precariously outside the structures.“There is barely any space between the buildings. The lanes are extremely narrow, and the wires are all tangled,” she said.She said the buildings appeared to be packed almost wall-to-wall, leaving little room for movement or evacuation in an emergency.The fear became even more intense because the collapsed PG was located just an arm’s length away from where she lives.She said she and other students spent the night wondering whether they should remain inside their rooms or leave the area altogether.ROOMMATE LEAVES PG TO STUDY AFTER NO POWERThe student also recalled how her roommate, who had an exam to prepare for, was forced to leave the PG after she could no longer study properly.With the electricity situation adding to the chaos and fear, her roommate packed her belongings and went somewhere nearby to study.“She had an exam and needed to study, but she was so anxious that she had to leave the room,” the student said.She said several students were similarly struggling to cope, with many staying awake and relying on mobile phone torches.PGs CHARGE RS 15,000, RS 17,000, Rs 20,000Beyond the immediate fear following the collapse, the student raised questions over the living conditions students are forced to accept despite paying steep rents.She said PG accommodation in Satya Niketan is extremely expensive, with students often paying around Rs 15,000, Rs 17,000 or even Rs 20,000 for rooms that offer very basic facilities.“Living here is very expensive, but the facilities are not good,” she said.According to her, some rooms have little or no electricity, limited space and poor ventilation. In many accommodations, two students share cramped rooms with barely enough space to move around.She also spoke about Hostel Daze, the PG accommodation that collapsed, saying it was a well-known option among students and was heavily advertised in the area through banners and hoardings.She said the high rents make life particularly difficult for students who have moved to Delhi from other parts of the country.PARENTS ARE SCARED TOOThe student said the incident has also left families worried about the safety of their children living away from home.Coming from Darbhanga in Bihar, she said the contrast between her hometown and the densely packed buildings of Satya Niketan has been difficult to adjust to.She said her parents repeatedly call to ask whether she is safe and whether everything is all right.“Students come here to study and build their future. Their parents send them with so much hope. But they also need to know that their children are living somewhere safe,” she said.For her, the collapse has turned an already uncomfortable living situation into a frightening one.The student said authorities must ensure that PG accommodations meet basic safety standards and provide students with decent, secure living conditions.“We pay so much money. We deserve safe and better places to live,” she stressed.- EndsPublished By: Karishma Saurabh KalitaPublished On: Sep 7, 2026 12:43 IST