Delhi building collapse Live Updates: ‘Not only building owners, MCD and DU also responsible’, says Delhi High Court

AAP leaders on Monday held a candle march near Satya Niketan in Delhi over the building collapse that killed seven people, with Delhi AAP president Saurabh Bharadwaj demanding accountability and better accommodation facilities for students.

Speaking during the march, Bharadwaj said the names of those running PG accommodations in Satya Niketan should be made public, alleging that “senior BJP leaders and mafias” were operating such facilities in the area.

He reiterated his demand that the Centre construct hostels for students and bear their PG fees until adequate hostel facilities are built.

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) spokesperson Saurav Das on Monday said the Satya Niketan building collapse highlighted two levels of failure — illegal construction and inadequate enforcement of safety norms, followed by the lack of regulation of private PG accommodations.

In a video statement, Das claimed the MCD had acknowledged that the building stood in an area where construction of so many floors was not permitted and that the high-occupancy PG was operating without an approved building plan.

He alleged that despite violations, the PG continued to function, pointing to failures by the MCD and other local agencies to enforce safety regulations.

Das also raised concerns over the large student population around Delhi University's campus and the continued operation of an unregulated private PG sector. He said similar failures were being witnessed across the country, resulting in the collapse of adequate and safe infrastructure for students.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday accused the BJP government of failing to take preventive measures before accidents and resorting to “grandstanding” and shifting blame onto officials after tragedies.

Reacting to the Satya Niketan building collapse, Gandhi said the incident was not an isolated tragedy and cited the deaths in a building collapse in Saidulajab and a fire in Hauz Rani over the past four months. He alleged that lives and aspirations were repeatedly being lost in such incidents without meaningful action being taken.

Gandhi also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for allegedly using insulting labels against those seeking accountability, saying such remarks were intended to “shame, defame, and silence” critics.

Questioning the functioning of Delhi’s BJP-led “triple engine” government, Gandhi asked why the administration remained “helpless” despite the BJP being in power at multiple levels. He attributed the situation to what he called a lack of political intent and accountability.

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has suspended South Zone Deputy Commissioner Rakesh Kumar and four engineers following the building collapse at Satya Niketan, Delhi Mayor Pravesh Wahi said.

Speaking about the action, Wahi said the decision was taken after “serious and careful consideration” and following instructions from Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. He said all officials were working with sensitivity and every effort was being made to ensure the safety of people in the city.

The Mayor said the action was also intended to send a message to officials and the public that incidents such as the Satya Niketan building collapse should not be repeated.