A grieving father who lost his son in the Satya Niketan building collapse in Delhi has made an emotional appeal to parents, urging them not to send their children to the national capital for studies without ensuring their safety.
Bhupendra Jaj, a car taxi operator from Dewas in Madhya Pradesh, lost his son Arpit Jaj in the building collapse on Sunday. Arpit was a second-year BCom student at a Delhi college and was staying in a boys’ paying guest accommodation in Satya Niketan.
Speaking to reporters while bidding farewell to his son, Bhupendra appealed to parents with folded hands. He said he had worked hard to educate Arpit despite financial difficulties and was devastated by his death.
According to the family, one of Arpit’s eyes was damaged in the accident. They decided to donate his other eye to help a person in need.
The father also described the difficulties the family faced while trying to locate Arpit after the building collapsed. He said they searched through the collapsed structure and various hospitals but struggled to obtain clear information about his whereabouts. The family eventually identified his body with the help of a lawyer.
Bhupendra demanded a thorough investigation into the tragedy and strict action against those responsible for the building collapse.
The decades-old building housing the boys’ PG facility collapsed on Sunday afternoon, killing seven people and injuring several others. The incident has raised fresh concerns about the safety of student accommodation and unauthorised construction in Delhi.
Police have arrested the building owner, 81-year-old Hariram Bansal, his 75-year-old wife Urmila and their 52-year-old son Mahesh in connection with the case. A labour contractor was also arrested from Kasganj in Uttar Pradesh.
The Delhi government has meanwhile directed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to demolish a dilapidated building adjoining the collapse site, citing concerns over public safety.
The tragedy has triggered wider questions about building regulations, construction practices and monitoring of PG accommodations in the capital. For families sending young students to Delhi from different parts of the country, the incident has also highlighted the importance of safe and legally compliant housing.
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