Satya Niketan PG collapse: Police blame owners in Delhi High Court

Delhi Police has told the Delhi High Court that the owners of the Satya Niketan paying guest building that collapsed on September 6 killed seven people failed to ensure structural safety and did not consult any qualified structural engineer or architect before carrying out repair work. The police status report, filed in response to a PIL, states that the building underwent construction and structural alterations without requisite permissions, and that the alterations increased the load on the existing structure, affecting its load-bearing capacity. Five students and two labourers died, while six others were critically injured.

According to the police, the accused owners, including Urmila Gupta, Hari Ram Gupta and their son Mahesh Gupta, began construction work 10 to 12 days before the collapse using an unqualified contractor. The police said the PG operators took the premises on rent without verifying structural safety and did not warn residents about the danger. Meanwhile, Businesstoday.in reported that health insurance typically covers medically necessary hospitalisation from accidental injuries like a building collapse, subject to policy terms and exclusions, but non-medical expenses and some outpatient treatments may not be covered.

The Delhi High Court has asked the MCD to investigate whether the building was constructed with valid permission and to fix responsibility for any lapses. The matter is listed for hearing tomorrow before a division bench.