NEW DELHI, September 7, 2026 – The Delhi Police has issued a Lookout Circular (LOC) against Hari Ram, the owner of a five-storey building that collapsed in South Delhi’s Satya Niketan area on Sunday. The tragic incident, which has claimed the lives of at least six individuals, occurred while structural repair work was underway on the ground floor of the premises. With search and rescue operations entering their second day, authorities have launched a massive manhunt to apprehend the absconding owner.
1.Casualties and Rescue Operations:
The collapsed building operated as a private boys’ paying guest accommodation known as ‘Hostel Daze’, heavily populated by students from the nearby Delhi University South Campus. So far, 11 people have been safely rescued from the rubble, while the death toll stands at six. Personnel from multiple emergency response agencies continue to painstakingly clear the debris to locate any students who may still be trapped.
2.FIR and Criminal Charges:
An FIR has been registered at the South Campus Police Station against the Gurugram-based owner, Hari Ram, and others. They have been booked under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, negligence in the upkeep and repair of a structure, and acts endangering the lives and personal safety of others. The LOC was issued to prevent the accused from fleeing as multiple police teams work to trace his whereabouts. Police are also investigating if his brothers were co-owners of the property.
3.Magisterial Inquiry and MCD Crackdown:
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta visited the collapse site and the AIIMS Trauma Centre to review the rescue efforts and meet the injured. She has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident, vowing strict action against those responsible. In parallel, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) announced an immediate sealing drive. Mayor Pravesh Wahi directed that all illegal constructions exceeding four floors in the area be sealed immediately and warned of the dismissal of any civic officials found guilty of negligence.
The tragedy has renewed intense scrutiny over the unregulated proliferation and structural safety of private student accommodations operating within the congested neighborhoods of the national capital.
Published by True Roots Media Network