Delhi building collapse highlights: Satya Niketan building's owner's son, two others sent to 2-day police custody | Hindustan Times - Hindustan Times

**Delhi building collapse highlights: Satya Niketan owner’s son, two others sent to 2‑day police custody**

A three‑storey residential building in the Satya Niketan neighbourhood of Delhi collapsed on Wednesday, killing at least four people and injuring several others. Preliminary investigations by the Delhi Police point to illegal structural alterations: workers had removed a load‑bearing wall on the ground floor and dumped debris in the basement, undermining the building’s stability. The collapse triggered a swift rescue operation by the National Disaster Response Force and fire services, who recovered bodies from the rubble while providing medical aid to the injured.

In the wake of the tragedy, Delhi Police placed the son of the building’s owner, along with two contractors allegedly involved in the demolition work, in police custody for two days. The three were questioned under the Delhi Building By‑Laws and the Indian Penal Code provisions relating to “culpable homicide not amounting to murder” and “dangerous building construction.” Authorities have also ordered a city‑wide audit of similar structures, especially those used as hostels for university students, to prevent a repeat of such incidents.

The incident has intensified calls for stricter enforcement of safety standards in student housing. The Delhi High Court has issued notices to the state government and the University of Delhi, urging them to formulate an affordable, safe‑hostel policy for students—a plea that gained momentum after the Satya Niketan collapse. Student groups, including the ABVP, have staged protests demanding accountability and faster implementation of the court’s directives, underscoring the broader political and social ramifications of the disaster.