The collapse of a five-storeyed building has reportedly claimed more than half-a-dozen lives, while several others are feared trapped beneath the debris.
Since March this year, the national capital has witnessed four deadly tragedies, claiming more than 40 lives. The grim sequence of building fires and collapses has once again raised an uncomfortable but unavoidable question: how safe is Delhi for those who live, work and study in it? The answer, unfortunately, appears increasingly disturbing. Delhi, being the political and administrative heart of the country and a historic metropolis, always attracts millions in search of education, employment and opportunity. Yet behind its imposing institutions and rapidly expanding infrastructure lies a deeply worrying reality. From residential buildings and hotels to student accommodations and coaching centres, basic safety norms are routinely ignored, while enforcement agencies appear either unwilling or incapable of preventing violations. This is why what should be treated as preventable disasters are repeatedly allowed to become deadly tragedies.
In March, nine members of a family, including three children, were killed in a building fire in Palam. Barely two months later, another tragedy struck Saket when a five-storeyed building collapsed, killing six people, including five medical/ engineering students and aspirants. The tragedy in June was even more horrifying. Twenty-one people were charred to death in a hotel fire in Malviya Nagar, with violations of safety norms reportedly contributing to the disaster. And now, another five-storeyed building collapse has reportedly claimed more than half-a-dozen lives, while several others are feared trapped beneath the debris. Once again, students appear to be among the victims. The location of the building, close to Delhi University's North Campus, made it a particularly attractive place for students seeking affordable accommodation. Their pursuit of education should not have exposed them to the risk of losing their lives. Taken together, these incidents can no longer be dismissed as isolated accidents. They point towards a deeper malaise in the way Delhi is planned, regulated and governed. The recurring nature of these tragedies suggests that lessons are not being learnt. After every disaster, authorities announce inquiries, inspections, crackdowns and assurances. Buildings are sealed, committees are formed and political leaders express grief. But once public attention shifts elsewhere, the old system often returns. This cycle must end.
Delhi's problem is not simply a shortage of laws. The real problem is implementation. Rules that exist only on paper cannot protect lives. There is also an urgent need to examine the accountability of officials and agencies responsible for granting permissions, conducting inspections and enforcing safety standards. If an illegal alteration, unauthorised construction or serious safety violation exists for years without action, responsibility cannot end with the owner or operator after a disaster. The officials entrusted with enforcement must also answer how the violation was allowed to continue. Delhi cannot aspire to be a world-class capital while failing to guarantee the most basic right of its residents—the right to live without facing preventable threats to life. Development cannot simply mean more buildings, roads and commercial establishments. It must also mean safer buildings, effective emergency systems and strict enforcement of regulations. Delhi needs accountability, not another round of condolences; enforcement, not merely regulations; and preventive action, not investigations after lives have been lost.