NEW DELHI: Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke called out Prime Minister Narendra Modi over a building collapse near Satya Niketan in South-West Delhi, asking: “For how long will students in this country have to pay the price for failing infrastructure and neglect?”Targeting PM Modi over his presence at SRCC’s centenary event, Dipke wrote on X: “Yesterday, the PM visited DU, gave a political speech and even invoked the term “Dimagi Naxal,” while speaking very little about the state of our educational infrastructure. Today, a hostel building in South Campus has collapsed, with students feared trapped under the debris. The number of casualties is still unknown.”He further wrote: “For how long will students in this country have to pay the price for failing infrastructure and neglect? Adivasi students are dying in tribal belts due to a lack of care and support, and even students studying in the national capital are not safe.”“Students deserve safe classrooms, safe hostels and basic dignity. Is that really too much to ask? Will the PM visit DU again and explain how did this happen?” he asked.A five-storey building being used as a boys’ paying guest accommodation collapsed in Delhi’s Satya Niketan area on Sunday afternoon, killing one person and leaving several others feared trapped under the rubble, officials said.The incident took place at around 1.30 pm in the densely populated neighbourhood near Delhi University’s South Campus, where student hostels, paying guest accommodations and eateries operate along narrow lanes.Local residents said the building was around two decades old and that construction work was underway in the basement when it came down.
Rescue teams on spot
Police, fire services, CAT Ambulance personnel and other emergency teams were deployed at the site soon after the collapse. A team from the National Disaster Response Force also reached the area and joined the rescue operation.According to a police statement, the South Campus police station received a PCR call at 1.34 pm reporting the collapse of a building near Nanakpura Gurdwara.“The exact number of persons trapped/injured is not known at present. Some people have been rescued so far. Further details will be shared as and when confirmed,” the police said.Officials said the building was known as ‘Hostel Daze’. Police have identified its owner and formed teams to locate him.
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One dead, two critical
AIIMS sources said four patients were brought to the hospital following the incident. One was declared dead on arrival, while two others remain in critical condition. A rescuer who was also taken to the hospital has since been discharged.While rescue teams continue to search through the debris, witnesses at the scene estimated that more than 20 people could be trapped inside. Officials, however, have not confirmed the figure.The exact number of people who were inside the building when it collapsed is expected to become clearer as rescue and relief operations continue.
