The owner of a paying guest (PG) accommodation in Delhi, who had been evading the law after a multi-storey building collapsed in the national capital’s Satya Niketan area on Sunday, claiming seven lives, was arrested from Rajasthan on Monday, police said. 

According to police, the structure’s owner has been identified as Hariram Gupta, who was apprehended almost a day after the decades-old building collapsed, trapping residents under the rubble and rendering several others grievously injured. 

Delhi Chief Minister (CM) Rekha Gupta took stock of the site on both Sunday and Monday to monitor the search-and-rescue operation. Officials aware of the development told news agency PTI that so far, 12 people had been pulled from the debris, including the seven persons who died in the collapse. 

5-floor buildings ordered to be sealed

In light of the incident, CM Gupta directed authorities to seal such buildings in Delhi which possess a fifth floor. She said, “Strict action will be taken against MCD officials found responsible. Instructions have been issued to immediately seal buildings in Delhi having a fifth floor.” Addressing the media, Gupta said water had accumulated in the basement of the building which contributed to the structural failure. 

She said, “Approximately 80% of the debris has been cleared, with only the basement debris remaining. Water had accumulated in the basement, and the combination of this with ongoing repair work on the old structure led to the collapse.” 

Injured receiving treatment

The Chief Minister went on to say that the injured people were receiving treatment at the hospital and that their parents were being provided updates on their condition. She added that Union Health Minister JP Nadda, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi had also been keeping a tab on the situation. 

Additionally, she also announced plans to demolish the building adjoining the collapsed structure, deeming it unsafe. 

Rescue operation still in force

The building, which housed a boys’ PG accommodation near Delhi University’s South Campus, came crashing down like a pack of cards at 1:30 on Sunday while its repair work was underway. Personnel from the Delhi Police, Delhi Fire Service, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) responded to the rescue operations, which continued through the night. 

The collapse prompted a frantic search for the people trapped beneath the debris as rescue teams worked through the night to clear the rubble and locate survivors. 

According to the residents of the area, most of the students staying in the area hailed from Kerala, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Many of them were enrolled at Motilal Nehru College, Atma Ram Sanatan Dharm College and Sri Venkateswara College, all located in close proximity to the now-destroyed PG.