Students wrap their belongings in bedsheets and gunny bags after they were asked to vacate from the neighbouring buildings
Teen logon ko humne andar se nikala, 15-20 logon ne milke.
Simran Kumar, from Ranchi, a Master’s student of History at Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College, said her PG owner had asked residents to move out. Falguni, from Madhya Pradesh, a Master’s student of Sanskrit at Sri Venkateswara College, said, “The owners always have a different answer to our issues. Around 200m away, near a milk booth, there are newer PG buildings that are relatively safer, according to residents. Hailing from Patna, Ankit Kumar, a third-year Political Science student at Motilal Nehru College, said, “Bahut zor se awaaz aayi thi, pehle humein laga bhukamp aaya hai.
College se paas padta hai toh commute time bacha ke hum woh time padhayi mein lagate hain” – it’s a common sentiment among students living in PGs around the now-infamous Satya Niketan Square. But a day after a boys’ PG building collapsed, killing seven, the proximity that drew students to the area has left them questioning the safety of the roofs over their heads. The area is largely occupied by outstation students who have moved to Delhi for education, many living away from home for the first time. “Humein bola hai ki do din mein khali kar do flat. Agar relatives ya friends rehte hain toh unke vahan jao. Signages were either torn or removed from most PG buildings. Hamare parents ko alag-alag reason dete hain. Kabhi risk hai, kabhi safe hai. Jab parents phone karke poochh rahe hain ki safe hai, toh keh rahe hain hume nahi pata. Aapko kaise nahi pata? Aap pata karo na. They are not even willing to admit that this is a PG. All signages have been removed after the collapse. The Satya Niketan area has multiple PG accommodations. One resident, Mohd Mubashir Alam, a third-year Political Science student at Motilal Nehru College, shared, “Jab collapse hua toh hum friends video call pe thay aur bahut zor se awaaz aayi thi. Meri PG building nayi bani hai woh isse better hai aur cramped nahi hai. Lekin Hostel Daze toh sabse achhi thi iss area mein. He was also part of the relief efforts undertaken by his college’s NSS unit. “Jo bhi donation aayi thi, humne woh aas-paas ke colleges mein jaake distribute kar diya hai. Vahan pe students thehre huye hain, college ki taraf se temporary accommodation mein. Before help arrived, locals and fellow students tried removing debris with their hands to save those trapped underneath. Jab balcony se bahar dekha toh bas dhuan tha, kuch dikhayi nahi de raha tha. Jaldi se hum sab neeche aaye aur malba hatana shuru kiya. Tab tak koi help ke liye nahi aaya tha. Police aur fire tender ko aane mein dedh-do ghante lage. Ankit Kumar, a third year student of Political Science at Motilal Nehru College
Simran Kumar, third-year student of History at ARSD College