Satya Niketan Building Collapse: Delhi Traffic Police Issues Advisory, Asks Commuters to Avoid Key Stretches

New Delhi: Delhi Traffic Police on Monday issued a traffic advisory following the building collapse at Satya Niketan Market in South Campus, saying traffic movement has been affected on several key routes as rescue and relief operations continue at the site. In a post on X, Officials aid, "TRAFFIC ALERT | SATYA NIKETAN Following a building collapse at Satya Niketan Market, South Campus, rescue and relief operations are underway. Emergency teams are working at the spot. Traffic movement is affected on routes from Safdarjung Hospital towards Dhaula Kuan, RTR,  Benito Juarez Marg. AVOID THESE STRETCHES, IF POSSIBLE. Use alternate routes and follow the directions of traffic personnel. Please do not stop, park or crowd near the incident site. Keep the way clear for ambulances and rescue vehicles. Your cooperation can help save lives."

The incident led to six deaths, while Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said that the possibility of another person being trapped under the debris cannot yet be ruled out. "Nothing definitive can be said yet about whether anyone else is there, as we have already accounted for students. You are aware that 12 people were rescued here, and there have been six casualties. It is suspected that there might be an unidentified labourer (inside the debris), but nothing can be confirmed until the situation is clear... The strictest possible action will definitely be taken; cases will even be registered. No one will be spared," Sirsa told reporters.

Sirsa said the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) was continuing rescue operations and that the age and unstable condition of an adjacent building was posing a challenge to the operation. "The NDRF team is continuously engaged in the operation. You can see that this situation involves a high degree of sensitivity because the building visible in the background is also 40–50 years old. It poses a major challenge for the NDRF to ensure no damage occurs to the adjacent building while clearing the debris from below and checking for any further casualties. However, the NDRF is a highly capable force; I have gathered information and spoken with the NDRF chief. The adjacent building will definitely be demolished—it has already been evacuated and is slated for demolition. But the challenge right now is that the structure is currently unstable; we do not yet know the condition beneath the accumulated debris, so it cannot be demolished immediately... The information received so far indicates that while this building was 40–50 years old, attempts were made to carry out work in its basement, which triggered this accident. The Chief Minister stated yesterday itself that strict action would be taken regarding the issues raised," he told reporters.

The death toll in the Satya Niketan building collapse rose to six after another body was recovered during late-night rescue operations. Twelve people have been rescued so far, while teams from the NDRF, Delhi Fire Service, Delhi Police and other agencies continue to clear the debris and search for anyone who may still be trapped.

The incident has also raised concerns over the safety of buildings being used as paying guest accommodations and the enforcement of construction and fire safety norms in densely populated areas of the national capital. 

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