The death toll in the tragic building accident that took place on Sunday in Satya Niketan area adjacent to the South Campus of the capital Delhi has increased to 6. A nearly 30-year-old five-storey paying guest (PG) building operating in a narrow street suddenly collapsed. After the accident, there was chaos in the area and a relief operation was conducted and people were pulled out from the debris. Seeing the seriousness of the accident, now the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has also come into action mode. The corporation has started action against the dilapidated and dangerous buildings around the building where the accident took place. The condition of these buildings is being investigated so that the possibility of another major accident can be avoided.
Seeing the magnitude of the accident, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has taken immediate cognizance. The corporation has pasted a notice declaring house number 13, Satya Niketan, located right next to the accident building, as dangerous. This notice has been issued by MCD under Section 348 read with Section 491 of the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957. It has been clarified in the notice that the condition of the building is very dilapidated and dangerous. Due to its current condition, there is a serious threat to the lives of the people living there as well as the people passing by.
Order to demolish the building in 3 days
MCD has ordered the landlord to self-demolish the dangerous building within three days of receiving the notice. The corporation has given a clear warning that if the landlord does not comply with the order within the stipulated time limit, then the MCD itself will demolish the building. The corporation has also made it clear that the entire expense incurred in demolishing the building will be recovered from the landlord in the form of outstanding tax. That is, if action is not taken within the stipulated period, not only will the corporation demolish the building at its own level, but the cost of demolition will also be passed on to the property owner.
Help of NDRF sniffer dogs is being taken
However, special teams of NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) are continuously engaged in relief and rescue operations at the incident site. The help of specially trained sniffer dogs of NDRF is being taken to find clues of people buried under the huge pile of debris. Along with removing the debris using modern equipment, rescue workers are busy searching for life at possible places.
Emergency agencies deployed on the spot
As soon as information about the accident was received, joint teams of Delhi Fire Service, local police and NDRF reached the spot. Since then, all the agencies are continuously running relief operations. Along with clearing the debris, ambulances and medical teams have also been put on alert, so that if any living person is found, immediate medical aid can be provided. Every part of the debris is being carefully examined during the relief operation.
Rent of Rs 12 thousand per bed, questions raised on maintenance
The Satya Niketan accident has raised serious questions on the arrangements and security arrangements of PG operators who charge heavy fare from students. According to local resident Rajan Chhetri, working in Delhi Police, there were about 15 rooms in the five-storey building which was the victim of the accident. Two to three students lived in each room and the landlord used to charge rent of Rs 12 thousand per bed per student. It is being told that students from Kerala, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh were living here, who were studying in Motilal Nehru College, Atmaram Sanatan Dharma (ARSD) College and Sri Venkateswara College of Delhi University. Despite collecting so much rent, questions are being raised regarding the maintenance and security arrangements of the building. After the accident, it is now a matter of investigation how serious the responsible parties were regarding the structural condition of the building, maintenance and safety standards.
Safety audit of dilapidated buildings will be done
After the death of 6 students in the accident in Satya Niketan, the administration has also increased the strictness regarding the old and multi-storey buildings nearby. Such buildings in the area are being identified and their safety audit is being done. The focus of the MCD and the local police administration is to ensure that such a tragedy does not happen again due to a dilapidated or unsafe building in this densely populated student hub. Action can be taken as per rules against buildings found in dangerous condition during security inspection.
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