NEW DELHI: The MCD Office at Civic Centre was vandalised on Sunday during a protest by Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) members over the building collapse near Delhi’s Satya Niketan area.Visuals showed broken and shattered glass at the civic body office as a large crowd gathered at the site. Police personnel were deployed to control the situation, and several protesters were later detained.The ABVP was protesting against the building collapse, in which five people have died so far and several others were rescued, according to Delhi Police.The student organisation was demanding the resignation of the MCD commissioner and a safety audit of student accommodations, including paying guest facilities, across Delhi.The ABVP alleged negligence by civic authorities and said the collapse raised concerns over the safety of PG accommodations where students live in large numbers.ABVP national general secretary Virendra Singh Solanki said the incident raised serious questions about the functioning of civic authorities and demanded a high-level probe into the collapse.“A high-level probe must be initiated to ensure strict action against errant PG operators as well as the officials who permitted such unorganised PGs to run,” he said.The collapse occurred at a five-storey boys’ PG near Shiv Mandir in Satya Niketan around 1.30pm on Sunday. An adjacent building also collapsed, according to an eyewitness.Preliminary information from NDMC vice chairperson Kuljeet Singh Chahal suggested that work was being carried out to open a basement in the existing structure. He said the government would take strict action against those found responsible.Rescue operations are underway at the site, with NDRF, fire department, police and other emergency teams searching the rubble for those still trapped. JCB machines have also been deployed to clear the debris.(With agency inputs)
