Satya Niketan building collapse: Owner Hariram apprehended in Rajasthan after 7 killed in Delhi

Hariram, the owner of the building that collapsed in Delhi’s Satya Niketan, has been apprehended from Bhiwadi in Rajasthan following a multi-state manhunt involving 10 teams, ANI reported citing Delhi Police.

Police had earlier issued a Look Out Circular (LOC) against Hariram after he went untraceable following the collapse. Further examination of Gupta is currently underway.

Also Read: Satya Niketan building collapse: MCD South Zone Deputy Commissioner, four engineers suspended


The death toll in the building collapse has risen to seven, while 12 people have been rescued. Rescue operations at the site are continuing.

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has suspended several officials in connection with the incident, including the Deputy Commissioner of the South Zone, Executive Engineer, Superintendent Engineer, Assistant Engineer and a Junior Engineer.

MCD Commissioner Sanjeev Khirwar said, "Unfortunately, we have lost seven lives. We think the building next to the collapsed building has weakened, and it was strengthened through the night. We will take it up for demolition in a calibrated manner in the next 1-2 days."

"In August, we had passed demolition orders for 3-4 buildings in the same area. A regular identification is conducted. In the last three months, 960 demolitions were carried out, 407 buildings were sealed, and notices were served to 1500 buildings for sealing and demolition. This is a regular process to take action against unauthorized construction," he added.

Also Read: Satya Niketan building collapse: Delhi High Court to hear PIL seeking ₹1 crore compensation and safety audits

The decades-old building in Satya Niketan housed a boys' paying guest accommodation and collapsed during repair work on Sunday.

The collapse has also prompted wider calls for action on student housing and building safety. Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Kumar Jha has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking urgent intervention following the incident.

"I therefore urge the Union Government to announce an emergency, ring-fenced financial allocation for the construction of public hostels for students of the University of Delhi. This should form part of a time-bound student-housing programme covering both the North and South Campuses and the University's geographically dispersed colleges. Public land available with the Union Government, the University and its agencies should be identified for hostel construction, with transparent deadlines and publicly accessible progress reports," he wrote.

The incident has also led to administrative action by the Delhi government. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has announced a new policy mandating structural audits for all buildings used for public purposes, including paying guest accommodations.