Delhi building collapse updates: At least five dead; FIR registered against alleged owner - The Hindu

**Delhi building collapse updates: At least five dead; FIR registered against alleged owner**

*Satya Niketan, New Delhi* – A three‑storey residential building in the Satya Niketan neighbourhood collapsed early on Saturday, killing at least five people and leaving several others missing. Rescue teams from the Delhi Fire Service, National Disaster Response Force and local police arrived within minutes, pulling survivors from the debris and transporting the injured to nearby hospitals. Families of the victims, many of whom were students from a nearby college, gathered at the site, with some using their phones to locate friends who were still unaccounted for.

The Delhi police have lodged a First Information Report (FIR) against the building’s alleged owner, identifying him as the primary suspect in alleged violations of construction norms. Preliminary investigations reveal that the structure had undergone unapproved basement repairs and was prone to waterlogging, raising questions about the role of civic authorities in permitting and monitoring such modifications. Officials from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) confirmed that the building lacked the required clearances for the added basement, and that previous complaints about water seepage and structural cracks had been ignored.

The tragedy has sparked renewed debate over Delhi’s chronic problem of illegal constructions and the perceived apathy of civic bodies. Students from nearby institutions have taken to social media, demanding swift action against the owner and accountability for the authorities that allowed the building to operate despite safety concerns. The Delhi government has promised a thorough inquiry, stricter enforcement of building codes, and compensation for the victims’ families, while urging residents to report any irregularities in their neighbourhoods.