Ageing buildings, is Delhi prepared for disaster?

New Delhi: The Satya Niketan building collapse has left students and residents worried not only about Delhi's ageing and vulnerable structures but also about the city's preparedness to respond when disaster strikes. Residents have complained of delays in the arrival and mobilisation of police and rescue teams, inadequate heavy machinery and lengthy operations even at relatively small sites, raising concerns over emergency management and coordination. For residents, the concern is not limited to the condition of one old building. They say the incident has exposed a larger gap in Delhi's disaster preparedness, particularly in densely populated student areas where old residential structures have gradually been converted into PGs and hostels. Satya Niketan's narrow and congested lanes also posed a major challenge for the movement of cranes and other heavy equipment. In the immediate aftermath, it was students and local residents who joined the rescue effort, with many rushing to the site before heavy machinery could be brought in. They formed a human chain to pass smaller pieces of rubble from one person to another and removed bricks, concrete pieces, broken pipes and other debris with their bare hands. Residents also moved parked vehicles to make way for rescue teams and machinery. 'We removed the rubble with our own hands. The local police also arrived soon after being informed, but the cranes took some time to reach the spot,' a resident, Preeti Sinha said, pointing to the difficulties created by the narrow lanes. Another resident said people did not wait for formal instructions before helping. 'Students from around the area immediately came out. Nobody was standing there waiting to be told what to do. People just started helping,' he said. The human chain continued even after cranes and professional rescue teams arrived, with residents helping clear smaller debris that could not easily be shifted mechanically. In some instances, locals reportedly arranged oxygen cylinders and attempted to get oxygen through gaps in the rubble for those trapped underneath. The narrow lanes also meant that getting cranes close to the collapsed structure was difficult. More than five cranes were eventually pressed into service, while NDRF and Delhi Fire Service teams worked through the night. The rescue became particularly complicated because removing debris too quickly risked weakening the adjoining building. Students said the collapse had created an atmosphere of fear in the locality. Delhi University student Pranit Singh said, 'People witnessed the collapse with their own eyes, so they are deeply traumatised and terrified, and they do not want to stay here for the next few days.' She said many students were leaving for relatives' homes while colleges had opened their doors to provide shelter. NSUI president Vinod Jakhar alleged a major failure in the rescue operation and questioned the preparedness of authorities to deal with such incidents. He alleged that the system had failed due to a lack of disaster planning, management, equipment and a proper rescue team. Residents also pointed to what they described as a recurring pattern of reactive governance, inspections, enforcement and announcements gaining momentum only after a tragedy. 'The government wakes up when something happens. The real work should be done before an accident, not after people are trapped under debris,' another local resident said. The incident has now prompted the Delhi government to announce wider preventive measures. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has said periodic structural audits and safety certification will be made mandatory for buildings used for public activities, including PGs, schools and nursing homes. Buildings violating safety norms can face sealing. Five senior MCD officials have been suspended, while L-G Sardar Taranjit Singh Sandhu has ordered structural audits in PG hubs within a week. The administration has also directed action against ongoing illegal construction and installed iron jacks to support vulnerable buildings near the site.