NEW DELHI: Delhi Police have registered an FIR against alleged owner Hariram and others in connection with the building collapse near Satya Niketan that left five people dead and 10 rescued on Sunday.“A case vide FIR No 153/26 u/s 105/290/125(a) BNS, PS South Campus has been registered against the alleged owner Hariram and others,” Delhi Police said.Police said the building was being used as a paying guest accommodation and renovation work was allegedly being carried out on the ground floor when it collapsed.“Multiple teams have been formed to trace the alleged persons,” police said.The five-storey building, known as “Hostel Daze”, had been operating as a boys’ PG, with several students staying there. An adjacent building also collapsed, according to eyewitnesses.The collapse occurred near Shiv Mandir in Satya Niketan around 1.30pm on Sunday, triggering a multi-agency rescue operation.NDRF, Delhi Fire Service, Delhi Police and Delhi Disaster Management Authority teams were deployed at the site, along with JCB machines and other equipment.Delhi Police said the building was around 40-50 years old and comprised a basement and five upper floors. Repair work was underway in the basement when the structure collapsed.Earlier, Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta said preliminary information suggested that excavation in the basement had caused a pillar to shift, leading to the collapse. She said those found responsible would not be spared.Following an on-site review and based on the preliminary assessment, Gupta has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident. The CMO said those responsible for the incident would be held fully accountable and dealt with under the strictest provisions of law.Rescue operations are still underway as teams are searching the debris for anyone still trapped.Five people have died in the incident so far, while 10 have been rescued and shifted for medical treatment.The incident has also triggered protests, with ABVP members vandalising the MCD Civic Centre while demanding the resignation of the MCD commissioner and a safety audit of PG accommodations across Delhi.(With agency inputs)
