Delhi Govt to Mandate Structural Audits for All Public-Use Buildings: CM Rekha Gupta

September 7, 2026

New Delhi: The Delhi government is preparing a policy to make periodic structural audits and safety certifications mandatory for all buildings used for public activities, including paying guest accommodations, nursing homes, schools and other facilities, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said on Monday.

The announcement came during her visit to the site of the Satya Niketan building collapse, which has claimed six lives. Gupta said no public activity would be allowed in a building that fails to meet the proposed structural safety requirements.

#WATCH | Delhi: Satya Niketan building collapse | Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta says, “Approximately 80% of the debris has been cleared; only the rubble from the basement remains. It is certain that there was water in the basement, and the accumulation of water—combined with… pic.twitter.com/xcTFvluUiL

— ANI (@ANI) September 7, 2026

Structural Audits to Become Mandatory

The Chief Minister said the policy is being formulated in coordination with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to ensure regular checks of buildings used by the public.

She said buildings such as PG accommodations, nursing homes, schools and other public-use facilities would have to undergo periodic structural audits and obtain safety certifications.

Gupta also said the government would not allow people to stay in unsafe PG accommodations.

Following the Satya Niketan collapse, the government has arranged accommodation in college hostels for people evacuated from the building. Gupta said officials were also in contact with the parents of students affected by the tragedy and providing them support.

The Chief Minister further warned that strict action would be taken against government officials if any negligence, oversight or other lapse on their part contributed to the incident.

Basement Work May Have Triggered Collapse

Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said the information available so far indicated that the collapsed building was around 40–50 years old and that work in its basement may have triggered the accident.

He said an adjacent structure at the site, which is also around 40–50 years old, has already been evacuated and will be demolished.

However, the demolition cannot be carried out immediately because the structure is currently unstable. Authorities also need to assess the condition beneath the accumulated debris before taking further action.

Sirsa said the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is continuing its rescue and debris-clearing operation. The unstable condition of the adjacent building has made the operation more challenging, as teams have to clear debris while ensuring that the neighbouring structure is not further damaged.

MCD Orders Demolition Within Three Days

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi had on Sunday ordered the demolition of the building at Property No. 13, Satya Niketan, within three days.

The civic body cited the building’s “ruinous/dangerous condition” and said it posed a threat to occupants as well as people living and moving around the neighbourhood.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta revisited the collapse site on Monday and held discussions with NDRF officials regarding the ongoing rescue and search operation. The operation to clear debris and check for any further casualties remains underway.

Protests Demand Accountability

The Satya Niketan collapse has also triggered protests and demands for accountability.

The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) staged protests in the national capital on Monday, demanding action against those responsible.

NSUI president Vinod Jakhar alleged shortcomings in the rescue operation and questioned the authorities’ preparedness to deal with the disaster. He alleged that the response system lacked adequate disaster planning, management, equipment and a proper rescue team.

The Delhi government’s proposed structural audit policy is now expected to put greater focus on the safety of buildings where large numbers of people live, study, receive medical care or otherwise gather for public activities.