Satya Niketan building collapse leaves students seeking shelter at Venky

After the Satya Niketan building collapse, students living in nearby PGs are leaving their rooms and taking shelter at Sri Venkateshwar College. Food and temporary space are available, but one question remains: where will they go next?Students leave PGs after the Satya Niketan building collapse and take temporary shelter at Sri Venkateshwar College, raising fresh questions over safety of student housing. (Image: Jitendra Singh)After the Satya Niketan building collapse, several students living in nearby PGs have left their accommodation amid fears about the safety of other buildings in the area. They have moved to Sri Venkateshwar College in South Campus, where temporary shelter has been arranged.The college is also providing food and water. For students who normally divide their days between college, the library and their PG rooms, spending the night inside a classroom is an unusual reality.But the immediate relief has not removed their biggest worry: if their PG is unsafe, where do they live next?WHY ARE STUDENTS AFRAID TO RETURN TO THEIR PGs?The building collapse has left students questioning the safety of the structures around them. Many students living in PGs are tenants. They depend on landlords and PG operators for accommodation and generally do not have the technical knowledge to assess a building's structural condition, fire safety or other safety requirements.That has created a new uncertainty. Students want to know whether the buildings they live in have been checked, whether they meet safety requirements and whether the necessary certificates are in place.The fear is simple: a building that felt like home yesterday may not feel safe today.COLLEGE OFFERS RELIEF, BUT IT IS NOT A PERMANENT HOMEFor now, Sri Venkateshwar College has stepped in as an immediate support system.Classrooms and other available spaces are being used to accommodate students, while basic food and water arrangements are being made.For students, this provides a safe place to stay after leaving their PGs. But it cannot easily become a long-term arrangement.They still have classes, examinations, daily expenses and other responsibilities. Finding another room that is both safe and affordable could be difficult, particularly at short notice.SATYA NIKETAN INCIDENT RAISES BIGGER PG SAFETY QUESTIONSSatya Niketan is surrounded by educational institutions and is home to many students who depend on private PGs and rented accommodation.Not every student can get a college hostel room. As a result, private accommodation becomes the practical alternative.That raises several questions after the building collapse: Are PG buildings regularly inspected? Are their structural conditions checked? Are fire-safety arrangements adequate? Do students know whether the buildings they live in meet safety requirements?And if a building is found unsafe, who is responsible for finding its residents another place to stay?These questions extend beyond Satya Niketan. Similar concerns could emerge in other student-heavy parts of Delhi if accommodation safety is not properly addressed.STUDENTS WANT A SAFE ROOF, NOT JUST TEMPORARY RELIEFFor the students sheltering at the college, the immediate help has brought some relief. But they want a longer-term answer.They want nearby PG buildings to be checked and clear information about which properties are safe. If a building is found unsafe, they want affected students to be shifted to secure alternatives.They also want greater accountability from PG operators. Paying rent, they argue, should come with the basic assurance of a safe place to live.THE QUESTION THAT REMAINSA building collapse can trigger an immediate rescue and relief response. But for students who have had to leave their homes, the crisis does not end when the immediate danger passes.For now, Sri Venkateshwar College has given these students a temporary roof. They have food, water and a place to sleep.But what happens after that?Will Delhi's authorities conduct a wider safety check of PGs and rented buildings in student areas? Will unsafe properties be identified before another tragedy? And, most importantly, who will give the students currently sleeping in classrooms a safe roof tomorrow?- EndsPublished By: vaishnavi parasharPublished On: Sep 7, 2026 18:52 IST