A dilapidated five-storey building undergoing construction had to collapse like a pack of cards to warn the government and the Delhi University administration that there are not enough residential accommodations for students in Delhi. The building used as a paying guest, or PG accommodation, in the crowded Satya Niketan area fell, snuffing out seven young lives. This tragedy is not the first in the history of the capital city.
Just three months ago, a major fire destroyed a hotel in south Delhi’s Malviya Nagar, killing about 23 people and injuring several others. The place accommodated relatives of patients admitted in the swanky hospital across the road. Several such building collapses and fire incidents in heavily crowded places in Delhi have happened. Rescue operations are undertaken, most of the time assisted by the neighbours and passersby, politicians condemn the incident, government officials hold meetings, officials are transferred, charges are filed by the police, and, eventually, the situation is ‘back to normal’ once again.Delhi reportedly witnessed over 1,130 building collapse incidents between 2022 and 2024. Media reports suggest that more than a thousand buildings collapse in India every year. While these are only reported figures, actual numbers could be bigger.
