Students help clear debris after Satya Niketan collapse
Student volunteers from nearby colleges, such as Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma (ARSD) College, Venkateswara College, and others in the vicinity, were among the first responders to the five-storey building collapse in Satya Niketan on Sunday afternoon. These volunteers, many of whom were members of the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), played a key role in clearing debris and making way for heavier machinery to access the site.
“I saw NSUI students working tirelessly, removing debris with their bare hands, and carrying heavy blocks of cement and other rubble,” said Mahender Singh, a local resident who owns a sports products company. “They were the first ones to reach the site, and their immediate response was instrumental in expediting the rescue operations.”
Mahender Singh initially dismissed the loud noise he heard as someone playing loud music nearby. However, when he realized that a building had collapsed, he rushed to the site to offer whatever help he could. “It was shocking to see the extent of the damage. The building had pancaked, with each floor crashing down onto the one below it,” he recounted.
By around 2:30 p.m., rescue efforts were in full swing. The Delhi Fire Service and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) had begun their operations, but earthmovers were still making their way to the site. The public was asked to disperse to ensure the safety of both the rescuers and the onlookers. Student volunteers and police personnel worked together to create a human chain along the road, clearing a path for the heavy machinery to pass through.
Before the earthmovers arrived, the student volunteers had already removed a significant amount of debris. They carefully picked up chunks of brick, mud, and stone, as well as damaged vehicles, and even opened access to a nearby Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) park to facilitate the dumping of debris. One resourceful student went above and beyond by climbing onto an earthmover to clear dangling wires that were blocking its path to the collapse site.
Video of Trapped Student Circulates
A sobering moment came when a video began circulating among student groups, showing a fellow student trapped under the debris. “Aditya, a first-year B.Com. student from ARSD College, recorded a harrowing video of his friend being trapped under the rubble,” said Vansh Rajput, another student from the college. “While Aditya managed to escape, unfortunately, his friend could not be rescued in time.”
Students Evacuated from Nearby Accommodations
The sudden collapse of the building led to the evacuation of students from nearby paying guest accommodations and hostels. Many were sheltered at Sri Venkateswara College and ARSD, where they were provided with food and other necessities. However, the evacuation also included students from a girls’ PG located adjacent to the collapsed building, which suffered structural damage due to the impact.
“I had just visited my daughter in her PG near Venkateswara College when the building collapsed,” said Jonali Boradas, who had traveled from Assam to see her children. “Thankfully, she was shaken but otherwise unharmed, and we were both quickly moved to a safer location.”
Illegal Construction Fuels Safety Fears
Mr. Singh, the local resident, expressed grave concerns about the rampant unauthorized construction in the area. “The entire neighborhood is filled with illegal constructions. The collapsed building had dangerously thin walls, no pillars for support, and was clearly not up to code. It’s a miracle that more people weren’t hurt or killed,” he said.
The building collapse also raised questions about the safety and living conditions of private student accommodations in the area. Manish Sharma, the national in-charge of the Indian Youth Congress, emphasized the need for governments to examine the facilities provided by these accommodations. “As more students opt for private accommodations, it’s key for authorities to ensure these places are safe and meet basic standards. This incident highlights the urgent need for better regulations and enforcement in this regard,” he said.
