Satya Niketan building collapse: Teacher, student groups call for Delhi PG safety audit

Student and teachers' organisations demanded a probe and wider safety checks after a five-storey building collapsed in Delhi's Satya Niketan.Student and teachers’ organisations on Sunday called for a thorough investigation and a city-wide safety audit of paying guest (PG) accommodations after a five-storey building collapsed in Delhi’s Satya Niketan.The National Democratic Teachers' Front (NDTF), ABVP, NSUI and Students' Federation of India (SFI) called for faster rescue operations and action against those responsible for alleged safety violations.The statements came as rescue teams searched the debris of the collapsed building, where several students were feared trapped.NDTF SEEKS SAFETY AUDIT OF STUDENT HOUSINGThe NDTF said one person had died and others had suffered serious injuries in the collapse. It said several people remained trapped under the debris. The teachers’ body said the incident raised questions about compliance with structural and fire safety norms at privately run hostels and PG accommodations near Delhi University campuses and colleges.It also pointed to narrow lanes in student residential areas, saying they could make rescue operations more difficult during emergencies. The NDTF called for a time-bound inquiry into the collapse and a comprehensive inspection of privately run hostels and PG accommodations around Delhi University and its affiliated colleges.ABVP CALLS FOR HIGH-LEVEL PROBEThe Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) said its volunteers were assisting rescue teams at the site and called for more rescue personnel, ambulances, medical assistance and specialised equipment.The RSS-affiliated student organisation also announced emergency helpline numbers for students and families affected by the incident.ABVP national general secretary Virendra Singh Solanki called for a high-level probe into the collapse.“A high-level probe must be initiated to ensure strict action against errant PG operators as well as the officials who permitted such unorganised PGs to run,” he said.The ABVP also demanded structural and safety audits of PGs and rented accommodation in student-dense areas of Delhi, beginning with Satya Niketan. It called for a permanent system of regular safety inspections.NSUI AND SFI DEMANDS ACCOUNTABILITYThe National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) alleged negligence in ensuring student safety and called for rescue operations to be carried out on a priority basis.In a post on X, the Congress-affiliated student organisation sought an investigation into the collapse and accountability for those responsible.The SFI Delhi State Committee said the collapse highlighted concerns over illegal construction and living conditions in student areas.The Left-affiliated organisation said students arriving in Delhi from different parts of the country often live in crowded flats and PG accommodations because there are limited formal mechanisms to help them find housing.It also raised concerns about ventilation, sanitation, tenancy security, rent agreements and rent increases in student residential areas.The SFI called for government intervention to regulate private PG accommodations and ensure safer housing for students.The organisations made their demands as rescue operations continued at the Satya Niketan site. The exact number of people trapped, injured or killed was not immediately clear from the statements issued by the groups.(With inpusts from PTI)- EndsPublished By: Rishab ChauhanPublished On: Sep 6, 2026 18:46 IST