Police have detained Hariram Gupta, named in the FIR, while rescue teams continue clearing debris from the collapsed five-storey PG near Delhi University’s South Campus.
BY PC Bureau
New Delhi, September 7, 2026: The owner of the five-storey PG building that collapsed in Delhi’s Satya Niketan has been apprehended from Bhiwadi in Rajasthan, as the death toll in the disaster rose to seven on Monday.
Hariram Gupta, also identified in some reports as Hariram Bansal, was named in the FIR and had been absconding since Sunday’s collapse. Police had issued a lookout notice and deployed teams across the Delhi-NCR region to trace him.
The building, known as Hostel Daze, collapsed at around 1.30 pm on Sunday in a congested lane near Delhi University’s South Campus. It was being used as a boys’ PG and housed students from nearby colleges, including Motilal Nehru College, Atma Ram Sanatan Dharm College and Sri Venkateswara College.
At least 12 people have been rescued from the debris. The NDRF, Delhi Fire Service, Delhi Police and other agencies continued the search on Monday, with teams concentrating on the remaining rubble, particularly around the basement. The NDRF said it did not have a specific figure for how many people might still be trapped.
At AIIMS JPN Apex Trauma Centre, 11 patients were received following the collapse. Five were brought dead, one later died of injuries, three remained under treatment and one person with minor injuries was discharged, according to AIIMS.
Five MCD officials suspended
The collapse has triggered the first major administrative action, with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi suspending five South Zone officials, including the Deputy Commissioner, Superintending Engineer, Executive Engineer (Building), Assistant Engineer (Building) and Junior Engineer (Building). The officials have been suspended pending disciplinary proceedings.
The civic body has also come under scrutiny over the building’s construction and use. MCD officials said the property, spread over about 55 square yards, was originally permitted as a ground-plus-one structure, while the collapsed building had been expanded into a multi-storey structure.
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CCTV footage captures the sudden collapse of PG building in Satya Niketan, South Delhi pic.twitter.com/Btq8TF1vO8
— Sumit Raj (@Sumitraj002) September 7, 2026
Basement work under scanner
Preliminary assessments have focused on ongoing renovation work and water accumulation in the basement. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, after visiting the site, said these factors appeared to have contributed to the collapse.
Gupta said about 80% of the debris had been cleared, with rescue teams working on the basement area. An adjoining building was declared extremely dangerous and is to be demolished after debris from the collapsed structure is removed. Residents of the affected and neighbouring structures have been evacuated.
Delhi Police has registered an FIR against the building owner and others under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to culpable homicide, negligent conduct concerning buildings and acts endangering life or personal safety. A magisterial inquiry has also been ordered.
The government has ordered structural audits of similar old buildings being used as PGs and other commercial establishments. It is also working on a policy requiring owners of old commercial-use buildings to submit structural safety reports before operating such establishments.
The collapse has renewed concerns over unauthorised construction and enforcement failures in Delhi’s densely populated student-housing areas, with authorities now facing questions over how an ageing multi-storey structure was allowed to operate as a PG.
