Six killed in Delhi building collapse, rescuers search through rubble - Reuters

**Six people were killed and dozens injured when a three‑storey private‑hostel (PG) in Delhi’s Satya Niketan area collapsed early on Tuesday, trapping residents under a mound of concrete and brickwork.** Emergency services, including the Delhi Police, fire brigade and the National Disaster Response Force, arrived within minutes and began painstakingly sifting through the debris. Rescuers used hand tools and sniffer dogs to locate survivors, while families gathered at the site, hoping for news of missing loved ones. By late afternoon, officials confirmed six fatalities, with several others taken to hospitals for injuries ranging from fractures to crush syndrome.

**The Delhi High Court, responding to petitions from victims’ families, ordered a high‑level inquiry by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and mandated a comprehensive safety audit of all PG accommodations in the city.** The court also directed that the number of rescue personnel be doubled and that the inquiry’s findings be submitted within 30 days. MCD officials have pledged to cooperate, stating that a special task force will inspect structural integrity, fire safety measures and occupancy certifications across more than 8,000 registered PGs. The move comes amid growing concerns that many such hostels operate without regular inspections, despite existing regulations dating back to the 1970s.

**The tragedy has reverberated beyond the immediate victims, prompting universities and student bodies to call for stricter enforcement of building codes.** Delhi University’s South Campus, located a short distance from the collapse site, remained largely deserted as colleges stayed closed, citing safety concerns for students and staff. Policymakers are now revisiting decades‑old norms governing PG construction and maintenance, with proposals to introduce real‑time monitoring, mandatory structural audits every two years, and harsher penalties for non‑compliance. The incident has reignited a long‑standing debate over whether existing regulations are sufficient to protect the thousands of students who rely on private hostels for accommodation.