Delhi Building That Collapsed Was 50 Years Old, Renovation Efforts May Have Sealed Its Fate

Greed and the pursuit of profit can sometimes turn an already dangerous situation into a tragedy. The collapse of a Delhi building that claimed at least six lives and injured several others has raised serious questions about the safety of ageing structures, construction practices and the conversion of residential properties into paying-guest accommodations.

The building, which was around 50 years old, had reportedly been in a poor and deteriorating condition for years. Weather damage and prolonged neglect had left the structure in a fragile state. However, its location near Delhi University, an area where thousands of students live and study, made the property commercially attractive. With several paying-guest accommodations already operating nearby, the ageing building was reportedly renovated with the intention of turning it into a student hostel.

The owner, Hari Ram Bansal, is said to have spent several months carrying out renovation and construction work on the property. The building, named Hostel Daze, began housing tenants in August, with most of the occupants reportedly being students. However, the work on the property had not been completed when the structure collapsed. Construction workers were still carrying out work in the basement at the time of the incident.

Eleven people were rescued from the debris, including two labourers. One of the workers died in the collapse, further indicating that construction activity was taking place inside the building when the tragedy occurred. The property reportedly had around 30 rooms, with plans to accommodate two or three students in each room. The circumstances surrounding the building have raised concerns because the structure was originally intended for residential use rather than as a commercial hostel. Its apparent conversion into a high-occupancy student accommodation has prompted questions over whether the necessary permissions, structural assessments and safety requirements were followed.

The collapse also occurred after Delhi witnessed two consecutive days of rain, resulting in waterlogging in the area. The sloping nature of the road reportedly contributed to the accumulation of water. Residents said water had collected in the basement of the building, even as workers continued their work there. A local resident told PTI that basement waterlogging was a common problem in the neighbourhood and that labourers had continued working in the flooded conditions during the rain. The situation has raised concerns about whether the workers faced additional risks inside the already weakened structure.

Residents have also alleged that converting houses into paying-guest accommodations has become increasingly common in the locality. Priyanka, who said she had lived in the area for more than 20 years, claimed that several property owners had turned their houses into hostels, particularly for boys, before moving away themselves. According to her, some buildings have been extended to five or six floors, while owners manage rent collection remotely and do not regularly visit the properties. Another resident claimed that Bansal had moved to Gurugram nearly two decades ago but continued to visit the property. He said construction work had been taking place in the basement and that a wall was being removed before the building collapsed.

Authorities have now registered a case against the owner and begun investigating the circumstances that led to the collapse. The probe is expected to examine the condition of the old structure, the renovation and construction work carried out there, the use of the property as a hostel and whether all required permissions and safety standards were followed. The tragedy has once again exposed the dangers associated with ageing buildings being modified or repurposed without adequate structural checks. While legal action has now begun, the incident raises a larger question about whether stronger inspections and enforcement could have prevented the loss of lives in the first place.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from NDTV.