Who is Hariram Gupta, owner of the Delhi PG that collapsed and killed seven?

Hariram Gupta, the alleged owner of the Delhi building that collapsed and killed at least seven people, was arrested in Rajasthan on Monday, a day after the disaster in Satya Niketan. Police had been searching for him across Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

Gupta was detained in Bhiwadi, in Rajasthan's Khairthal-Tijara district. Delhi Police formed 10 teams to locate him, drawing officers from the local district police, the Special Staff and other operational units. Each team was led by an officer of Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police rank.

Gupta lives in Gurugram, Haryana, where a neighbour described him as a long-time resident with several properties and a hardware shop. The neighbour said Gupta had lived there for years and that his daughter and son also lived nearby in Sector 23. He added that Gupta owned four or five properties in the area, though he did not know whether Gupta owned a house in Satya Niketan.

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Strict action will be taken against MCD officials found responsible. Instructions have been issued to immediately seal buildings in Delhi having a fifth floor.

The collapse left at least seven people dead and injured several others. Officials said 12 people had been pulled from the debris, including the seven who died. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta visited the site as search and rescue operations continued.

She ordered authorities to seal all buildings in Delhi that have five floors and said officials found responsible would face strict action. Gupta said about 80% of the debris had been removed, with work continuing on the basement. She said water had accumulated there and, together with ongoing repairs to the old structure, contributed to the collapse.

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Approximately 80 per cent of the debris has been cleared, with only the basement debris remaining. Water had accumulated in the basement, and the combination of this with ongoing repair work on the old structure led to the collapse.