A building collapse in Satya Niketan killed six people and injured several others. Student organizations are demanding MCD commissioner Sanjeev Khirwar’s resignation over alleged civic lapses
National Social Media Convenor of ABVP Prerna Bhardwaj said the organisation was demanding accountability and questioned the standards of student safety in the capital. The chief minister has also ordered a magisterial inquiry and said strict action would be taken against officials whose negligence or oversight contributed to the tragedy. CM said water had accumulated in its basement and that the combination of waterlogging and ongoing repair work had weakened the old structure.
The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has demanded Khirwar’s resignation, alleging that the civic administration failed to ensure the safety of students living in the area. The organisation had also protested outside the MCD office following the collapse. The National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) also staged a protest over the incident. NSUI president Vinod Jakhar alleged that the rescue operation exposed failures in disaster preparedness, equipment and management. Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta has meanwhile ordered the suspension of several MCD officials in connection with the collapse. Those suspended include the deputy commissioner, superintendent engineer, executive engineer, assistant engineer and junior engineer. The building, which was more than four decades old, had been operating as a student PG.
CM said the government was working on a policy requiring such buildings to undergo periodic structural audits and obtain safety certification. The collapse has also triggered a wider review of old and potentially unsafe buildings being used as PG accommodations, nursing homes, schools and other establishments.