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.

For residents living in three slum clusters – Bhai Ram Camp, DID Camp and Masjid Camp – near the Prime Minister’s residence on Lok Kalyan Marg, the prospect of moving to Savda Ghevra, nearly 45 km away in north-west Delhi, is fraught with uncertainty. Many fear losing their livelihoods, access to health care and community support systems.

The Land and Development Office had issued eviction notices to hundreds of families in these jhuggi-jhopri (JJ) clusters in October 2025, asking them to vacate the land. The residents went to court, which directed compliance with the due process. In February this year, the authorities issued a final notice asking residents to vacate by March 6.

On June 15, the Delhi High Court provided interim relief to the JJ cluster residents, directing the authorities not to demolish until July 1 the houses of those who have neither vacated nor accepted alternative accommodation.

While the Delhi government has allotted flats to 717 eligible families in the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board colony at Savda Ghevra under its 2015 rehabilitation policy, many residents are apprehensive about having to start all over again.

Staying put

In the narrow lanes of these settlements, residents could be heard discussing relocation plans amid the looming threat of demolition. While some families have shifted their belongings to the allotted flats, most continue to live in their old homes.

“We have sent our belongings to the flat in Savda Ghevra, but are yet to shift,” said a DID Camp resident.

Residents argue that the resettlement site threatens their means of survival. Many work within a 5-km radius of their current homes as domestic workers or drivers in nearby government offices. “Our workplaces are close by. If we move, we will lose our jobs,” said Sarovar Kumar, 45, who has lived in the area for 25 years.

“We have received the allotment, but our only source of income is the shop we run here, so we haven’t moved,” said Gohar Siddiqui, 28, a resident of Masjid Camp.

Essential services

Access to essential services remains another key concern. “My son has breathing issues and requires frequent hospital visits. That will not be possible there as there is no hospital nearby,” said Asma.

The residents also raised concerns over disruption in children’s education. “Some of our children are in Class 12, and we want them to continue their studies without interruption,” another resident said.

Safety, particularly for women, was cited as an additional worry. “We have heard that the area is unsafe. We are concerned about our safety and that of our daughters,” said Jyoti Samial, 46, a resident of Bhai Ram Camp.

Residents said they are not opposed to relocation but want rehabilitation that ensures access to livelihoods and basic services.\

(With inputs from Anisha Jyotirmayee)