The Delhi High Court on Monday (September 14, 2026) refused to urgently list a plea raising concerns over the MCD’s decision to demolish the building adjoining the Satya Niketan hostel that collapsed last week.

A lawyer told a Bench of Chief Justice D. K. Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia that the authorities proceeded with the demolition without removing the debris from the hostel’s basement, and some people may still be trapped. The lawyer mentioned the matter for an urgent hearing.

The court observed that the authorities must have conducted an audit before demolishing the adjoining building and asked the lawyer not to file a petition “in air”.

“What’s the source of information that there are persons below the debris? How do you know? They must have conducted some type of technical audit before deciding to demolish the adjoining building. It’s all your guesswork that there might be some people. You should have some basis for making such submissions,” the court told the lawyer.

Stating that the plea would be listed in turn, the Bench added, “What’s so urgent? You should not file the petition just in air. What is the technical information available to you?” The building at Satya Niketan, which housed a boys’ paying-guest accommodation near Delhi University’s South Campus, collapsed on September 6 while repair work was underway.

The high court, on September 7, ordered a high-level MCD inquiry into the building collapse incident at Satya Niketan that left seven people dead and made it clear that the government cannot evade responsibility.

It said the incident was not only unfortunate, but it also evoked deep concern about inadequate housing facilities, including hostels run by Delhi University or the government, safety and security of students and not-so-adequate measures employed by the MCD and other authorities to regulate such PG facilities.

On September 8, the civic authority began a controlled demolition of the building adjoining the collapsed hostel after deeming it dangerous.

The building housed a girls’ paying-guest accommodation and was evacuated after the collapse of the neighbouring five-storey structure.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has directed officials to conduct inspections of all paying guest (PG) accommodations in the national capital and take action against illegal constructions, the CM’s Office (CMO) said on Wednesday (September 9, 2026).

Authorities have been asked to scrutinise building records to determine exactly when the illegal construction took place and under whose jurisdiction, according to the CMO.

The directions come in the aftermath of the collapse of a building in south Delhi’s Satya Niketan on Sunday (September 6, 2026), which killed at least seven people and brought the issue of illegal construction and building safety into focus. A PG operator has been arrested in connection with the collapse.

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has launched a crackdown on illegal constructions, including carrying out demolition action. CM Gupta has asked officials to ensure that all senior civic officials remain on the ground during the enforcement drive.

Action against illegal constructions was carried out in several parts of the city on Wednesday (September 9, 2026) as part of the drive, officials added.

According to civic body data updated till Tuesday (September 8, 2026), demolition action was taken against 24 properties and seven illegal structures were sealed following the Satya Niketan building collapse.

Overall, between June 1 and September 8, the MCD carried out demolition action against 1,007 properties and sealed 471 others. During the period, it had issued 3018 show-cause notices — 1,551 for unauthorised construction, 714 for sealing and 753 for demolition, according to the data.

Earlier, Ms. Gupta and Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu had directed authorities to inspect PG accommodation hubs, particularly buildings that have prima facie violated prescribed height and floor restrictions. The L-G had also directed that structural audits of all buildings in PG hubs be completed within a week.

The building collapse in Satya Niketan also led to administrative action against civic officials, with five MCD engineers, including the deputy commissioner of the South Zone, being suspended.

With inputs from PTI

A day after the Delhi Fire Service and Delhi Police concluded search and rescue operations at the site of the Satya Niketan PG collapse, over 150 Delhi University students began an indefinite protest on Tuesday (September 8, 2026), claiming that several students were still unaccounted for and demanding that the government release complete data on the incident.

The students alleged that the authorities were underreporting the number of deaths in the collapse, which killed seven people and injured five others.

“There are at least three to four students who are currently unaccounted for. There could be more. Their parents visited AIIMS and Safdarjung hospitals and did not find their children there. We are trying to get the whereabouts of these students,” said Unnayan, an AISA representative.

“There is a basement which has not been evacuated yet. There might still be labourers inside,” he alleged.

The students also claimed that the families and friends of some victims were being allowed into the AIIMS Trauma Centre, adding to the confusion and distress surrounding the incident.

Their demands include ₹1 crore compensation for each victim’s family, safety audits of all PG accommodations, action including jail against those responsible for violations, and hostel facilities for students.

Students pack up

Meanwhile, the lanes of Satya Niketan, usually crowded with students, were dotted with suitcases, large bags and other belongings as hundreds of students began vacating PG accommodations following directions to remove occupants from unsafe buildings.

Several students said those living in PG buildings with four or more floors were being asked to vacate first as such structures were expected to face demolition as part of the action against illegal constructions.

At several PGs, students who were away when the collapse occurred had friends or relatives arrive to collect their belongings.

“My niece got admission to Maitreyi College a month ago, and she shifted to a PG here. Her parents are in Guwahati and they could not come here so quickly from such a distance. I got a call from them and that is why we came to take her and her things back,” a relative said.

Some students alleged that even after vacating their accommodations, they had not received their security deposits or refunds for outstanding rent.

The exodus has added to the uncertainty among students living in the densely packed neighbourhood, where a large number of PG accommodations cater to students from Delhi University’s South Campus. For many, the immediate concern is finding a safe place to stay even as questions remain over the structural safety of other buildings in the area.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday (September 8, 2026) said it would consider on September 10 issues related to Delhi’s Satya Niketan building collapse and, if necessary, it may transfer the case already dealt with by the High Court in Delhi.

The Supreme Court, which is already dealing with issues related to unauthorised constructions in residential areas, fire safety and conversion of residential into commercial establishments in violation of norms across India, was urged to take up urgently the matter related to the Sunday incident which left seven students dead.

A bench of Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and R. Mahdevan said the issues dealt with by the High Court are “serious” and overlap with the case already considered by the Supreme Court on a pan-India basis.

“We have something in mind. We will consider this issue day-after-tomorrow. This is a serious issue. The issues dealt with by the High Court are overlapping with one considered by this Court on pan-India basis,” the bench said.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Delhi government, termed the incident as “most unfortunate” and said, “Our heart goes out to the children and the parents”.

He brought to the notice of the Court that the Delhi High Court was already hearing a PIL on the issue and placed on record the order passed on Monday (September 7, 2026).

At the outset, senior advocate Ajit Sinha, amicus curiae appointed in the matter considered by the Supreme Court, said in view of the recent tragic incident, they have inspected the site along with a professor from IIT and MCD officials and filed a status report in this regard.

He urged the Court to take up the matter urgently so that necessary directions can be passed.

The Supreme Court has already issued numerous directions to authorities on issues related to unauthorised constructions in residential areas, fire safety and conversion of residential into commercial establishments in violation of norms.

The Delhi High Court on Monday (September 7, 2026) ordered a high-level MCD inquiry into the incident and made it clear that the government cannot evade responsibility. It termed the incident “most unfortunate” and said such tragedies are a result of inadequate measures employed by the MCD and other authorities.

On Monday (September 7, 2026), the over 27-hour rescue operation at the Satya Niketan building collapse site here concluded with seven people dead and five injured. The building owner, his wife and son were arrested, while five MCD officials have been suspended.

The five-storey building housing a boys’ paying guest accommodation near Delhi University’s South Campus collapsed around 1.30 pm on Sunday (September 6, 2026).

The death toll in the collapse of a building housing students in the Satya Niketan area rose to seven on Monday, even as the Delhi High Court expressed deep concern over the safety of students living in similar paying guest (PG) accommodations across the national capital and directed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to inspect all PG hostels under its jurisdiction within a week.

The Delhi Police arrested Hariram Gupta, 82, a retired Indian Air Force sergeant, his wife Urmila Gupta, 75, and their son Mahesh Gupta, 52. While the property was registered in Mrs. Gupta’s name, the men’s PG was allegedly being run by her husband and sun, police said. A search is ongoing for those operating the PG and the labour contractors that were carrying out repair work in the building’s basement. “Their role will also be examined in the case and accordingly action will be taken,” said Amit Goel, Deputy Commissioner of Police, South West.

Five officials of the MCD, the civic body responsible for issuing PG licenses and enforcing building norms, were suspended. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the government is exploring a policy to govern buildings used for several purposes, including PG accommodations.

Delhi building collapse: Follow LIVE updates on August 7, 2026

Shortage of hostels

In the High Court, a bench of Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia said the deaths raised serious concerns about the safety of students living in PG accommodations and the acute shortage of hostel facilities for outstation students in Delhi. The deceased students hailed from several States, including Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh.

The court directed the MCD to ascertain whether PG buildings in its jurisdiction had been constructed with valid permissions, whether they complied with building bye-laws, and whether any violations had taken place.

The High Court said the responsibility for the incident could not, prima facie, be confined to the property owner, as the role of university authorities and the MCD also required examination. It directed the civic body to conduct its inspection at the highest executive level and fix responsibility public servants if the collapsed building was found to have been constructed without authorisation.

Threat to students’ lives

“These PGs are not only very dangerous, they are causing threat to the lives, security to these students,” the Bench observed, stressing the need for greater hostel capacity for students coming to Delhi from across the country.

The court directed Delhi University to provide details of the number of such outstation students enrolled in its affiliated colleges and the number and capacity of hostels run by the university or the government. It questioned the absence of adequate hostel facilities, saying the shortage left students with little option but to depend on PGs and private hostels. The court also sought details of any statutory provisions governing PG accommodations in Delhi, while emphasising the need for a regulatory framework.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta assured the court that the State government was actively monitoring the situation and that no stone would be left unturned in the rescue operations.

The case will next be heard on September 25.

Three in critical condition

Over the course of the 28-hour rescue operation, at least 12 people were brought to the AIIMS Trauma Centre, while three were taken to Safdarjung hospital for treatment. At AIIMS, six people were brought dead, while one more person later succumbed to his injuries. At least three are said to be in a critical condition, the official statement from the hospital said. One person admitted is stable and receiving treatment, while another person was discharged on Sunday itself. The three patients at Safdarjung Hospital were also reported to be stable.

The rescue work was declared complete at 5 p.m. on Monday, with agencies saying the debris had been removed entirely from the site. The mortal remains of those deceased were handed over the family members, the police said.

A total of 11 people have been rescued so far from the debris of a five-storey building collapse in South West Delhi’s Satya Niketan, with the death toll reaching six, the Delhi Police said in its latest update on Monday (September 7, 2026).

One more person was rescued during the overnight rescue operations but was brought dead, taking the death toll to six, Delhi Police said.

Efforts are ongoing to trace the persons allegedly connected to the incident, the police added.

The building, which housed a boys’ paying guest accommodation near Delhi University’s South Campus, collapsed around 1.30 p.m. on Sunday (September 6) while repair work was underway.

Multiple agencies, including the Delhi Police, Delhi Fire Service, National Disaster Response Force and Delhi Disaster Management Authority, have been carrying out rescue operations through the night.

An FIR under Sections 105, 290 and 125 (a) BNS have been registered against the building owner Hariram Bansal and others. The building houses a PG accommodation named Hostel Daze. Locals said the building, which comprises a basement plus five more floors, is at least 50 years old.

(with inputs from PTI)

The formal function to mark the launch of the BJP’s new State headquarters in Goa was curtailed on Sunday (September 6, 2026) following a building collapse in New Delhi, even as Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the premises in the coastal State.

Mr. Shah, who is on a three-day tour to Goa, visited the party office in Chimbel village near Panaji and inaugurated it. While the event was underway, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced its curtailment due to a building crash in the national capital.

Delhi building collapse LIVE updates

A five-storey building housing a boys’ PG collapsed in south Delhi’s Satya Niketan area on Sunday (September 6, 2026) afternoon, leaving one dead and several people trapped, officials said.

“Since there is a tragedy in New Delhi, we have decided not to go ahead with the function,” Mr. Sawant said, adding that Mr. Shah, who left the venue, had extended his best wishes to the party workers on the inauguration of a new office building.

Several leaders, including BJP Goa president Damodar Naik, Union minister Shripad Naik, and Rajya Sabha MP Sadanand Shet Tanavade, were present for the programme.

Talking to reporters, Mr. Sawant said efforts are going on to rescue all those trapped under the debris at the collapse site in Delhi.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday (June 22, 2026) met the families of those who died in the Saidulajab building collapse and the Hauz Rani hotel fire incidents and handed them an ex-gratia amount of ₹10 lakh each. She said the government is taking concrete steps to prevent such tragedies, adding that those responsible for the two incidents won’t be spared.

Six persons, including five medical students and a canteen owner, died in the May 30 Saidulajab building collapse while 23 people, including several foreigners, were killed in the blaze at a bread-and-breakfast facility in Malviya Nagar’s Hauz Rani on June 3.

After meeting the family members of the deceased at the Secretariat, the CM said, “No assistance can make up for the loss of a loved one, but in this hour of grief, the Delhi government stands firmly with you like a family.”

Ms. Gupta said the government is enhancing the capabilities of the Delhi Fire Services to curb the rising number of fire incidents. To this end, smaller firefighting vehicles that can quickly access narrow lanes and densely populated areas are being procured, she added.