Police arrest building owner Hariram after fatal Delhi collapse
Law enforcement officers captured Hariram, owner of the collapsed Satya Niketan property, in Bhiwadi, Rajasthan. Delhi Police deployed ten separate teams across multiple states to track him down after he vanished following the disaster. Authorities had previously issued a Look Out Circular to prevent his escape, and investigators are now questioning him in custody.
Rescue workers confirmed seven fatalities from the disaster site, while twelve individuals survived and received medical care. Satya Niketan has long served as a densely packed residential hub for Delhi University students, making structural safety in the area a persistent concern for local authorities.
Also Read: Delhi building collapse: Death toll rises to 6, search for trapped persons underway
Municipal Corporation of Delhi officials faced immediate consequences on Monday. The civic body suspended five senior staff members, pulling the Deputy Commissioner South Zone, Executive Engineer, Superintendent Engineer, Assistant Engineer, and a Junior Engineer from their respective posts.
Demolition Plans dnd Prior Warnings
MCD Commissioner Sanjeev Khirwar expressed regret over the seven lost lives and outlined next steps. He noted that an adjacent structure sustained damage during the incident. Workers reinforced that neighboring property overnight, and crews will demolish it safely within two days. Khirwar pointed out that his department had already ordered the demolition of several properties in that specific neighborhood back in August. Sharing operational data, he stated that over the past three months, the civic body executed 960 demolitions, sealed 407 properties, and issued warnings to 1,500 other unauthorized constructions. Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Kumar Jha reached out to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting immediate intervention. Jha called for emergency, protected funding to construct public hostels for Delhi University students across all campuses to ensure safe living conditions. Furthermore, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta ordered mandatory structural audits for all public-use properties, specifically targeting paying guest accommodations.
