India hostel collapse death toll rises to seven as owner is arrested

The death toll from the collapse of a five-storey building housing a student hostel in New Delhi rose to seven on Monday, as authorities arrested the property owner and suspended five municipal officials.

Rescue teams pulled 12 people from the rubble during the second day of operations in the busy Satya Niketan neighborhood. Seven of those rescued had died, local officials told news agency PTI.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the owner had been arrested in Bhiwadi, in Rajasthan, and that legal proceedings had begun. She also ordered the suspension of five officials from the Delhi Municipal Corporation responsible for urban planning oversight in the area. They included the deputy commissioner, superintending engineer, executive engineer, assistant engineer and junior engineer.

The building collapsed at about 1:30 p.m. local time on Sunday near the South Campus of Delhi University. The structure was around 50 years old and occupied by students. Initial indications suggested that the collapse occurred while repair work was under way in the basement, which had been weakened by recent rains.

Gupta ordered the immediate closure across Delhi of five-storey buildings found to have irregularities. She said university hostels and other nearby buildings were also being inspected, and that properties failing to meet safety rules would be sealed immediately.

The Delhi government plans to introduce rules requiring regular structural audits and safety certification for all buildings used for public activities, including hostels, health centres and schools. “There will be no concessions on public safety, and responsibility will be fixed at every level,” Gupta said.

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There will be no concessions on public safety, and responsibility will be fixed at every level.