Delhi building collapse: If scooter was any closer, we would have been under it, says eyewitness
An 18-year-old student narrowly escaped a building collapse in Delhi's Satya Niketan area while searching for affordable housing. The incident has raised concerns about the safety of student accommodations in the area, which is a popular hub for Delhi University students.
Why it matters
The event underscores the precarious living conditions and safety risks faced by outstation students in major urban education hubs.
For 18-year-old Unnayan, a first-year psychology student at Aryabhatta College, Sunday (September 6, 2026) was supposed to be the first day of his search for a more affordable place to live. Instead, it turned into a traumatic experience.
Unnayan, who came to Delhi from Bulandshahr barely a month ago, was sitting on a broker’s scooter in the Satya Niketan area when the building in front of him suddenly collapsed. He was only a few steps away.
“I was right there. I just sat on the scooter, and we were about to start. The building was right in front of my eyes. It just fell,” he told The Hindu while coordinating search operations at the site that has turned into rubble.
The thought that the scooter could have been closer has continued to haunt him.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in