Just past the glittery cafes opposite the DU colleges, the narrow streets of Satya Niketan, buzzing with college students, witnessed a startling scene. A five-storey PG accommodation, housing several students, collapsed to the ground amid heavy rain, trapping several students inside.
As rescue teams struggled to carry out students over the next 24 hours, without knowing who would survive, it brought to light an uncomfortable truth: Did the incident in Satya Niketan really come as a surprise?
Having spent much of my youth in Satya Niketan, the building collapse felt like a situation waiting to happen rather than an accident, telling us that we may have ignored the reality for far too long. Unauthorised construction, weak enforcement of safety norms
and a growing influx of students have made PG accommodations in Satya Niketan a ticking time bomb.
‘Exorbitant Rent, Zero Safety’
Every year, thousands of students come to live at Satya Niketan due to a shortage of hostels in DU. The building collapse highlighted the beleaguered living conditions, with water scarcity and high rent among key concerns.
Ankit, a DU student currently living in Satya Niketan, told CNN-News18 that at least five to six students are crammed into a single room, with rents as high as Rs 28,000-30,000. Students are often left without electricity or water for hours.
“The electricity rates are Rs 13-14 per unit, and power cuts usually last two to three hours. Additionally, students are also forced to consume contaminated water. Many PG accommodations lack basic security and safety measures, including fire-safety equipment and CCTV cameras,” he said.
Tushar, who lived in Satya Niketan for nearly two years, also shed light on the poor construction of the buildings. “There is always a risk of getting an electric shock even while you are pressing the bell. The rent was high, but the services are not up to the mark. Even the staircases were poorly constructed with no space, and 5-6 students were living in a room with only one toilet,” he said.
As far as student safety was concerned, the proximity of the PGs to numerous bars and cafes on the outskirts of Satya Niketan is a major factor. “Women often don’t feel safe in several areas because a lot of these clubs are open late at night. People get drunk, and they get into a lot of fights,” Tushar stated.
Unauthorised Construction In Satya Niketan
Several incidents in the past have exposed how substandard and unauthorised construction can leave buildings vulnerable to hazardous conditions, particularly during the monsoon. The situation in Satya Niketan is, unfortunately, not at all different.
According to Ankit, nearly all PGs in Satya Niketan are illegally constructed. “Nearly 8,000-10,000 students reside in buildings in the nearby Mochi Gaon area. There are 40-50 buildings there, which are mostly constructed illegally. If there is any incident there, it would be difficult for even an NDRF team to get there,” he said.
The recent collapse of the five-storey PG, which killed seven students, revealed that it lacked a sanctioned plan and the construction of four extra floors was unauthorised. For most buildings in Satya Niketan, PGs are subject to minimum plot-size regulations, but several properties have been converted into multi-storey buildings to accommodate students.
“There is a limit for the construction of floors in a PG. However, property owners go beyond and create extra floors to charge more rent from students. Additionally, these buildings are built with single-brick walls and substandard flooring to cut costs, which are sometimes unable to cope with high occupancy levels,” Tushar told CNN-News18.
This substandard construction becomes particularly hazardous for occupants during heavy rains, with water seeping through poorly built surfaces, weakening the structure and making it more prone to deterioration.
The recent building collapse has forced the Delhi government to review existing PG rules and explore additional student accommodation through universities, with strict safety audits to ensure the safety of students. However, it remains to be seena crucial question: how quickly will the measures be implemented, and how will the government manage the growing influx of students.
