Satya Niketan Collapse: AAP Calls for Minister Ashish Sood’s Return as Rescue Efforts Continue

On Sunday night a five‑storey structure in the Satya Niketan neighbourhood of South‑West Delhi gave way, leaving a grim scene of rubble, cries for help and, ultimately, six fatalities. The tragedy has set off a frantic rescue operation involving the National Disaster Response Force, Delhi Fire Services, police and local administrators.

Amid the chaos, Aam Aadmi Party’s Delhi unit chief Saurabh Bharadwaj took to X (formerly Twitter) to point a finger at Urban Development Minister Ashish Sood, who, according to Bharadwaj, vanished from the public eye after posting a brief tweet at 3 p.m. about the incident. “Has he taken a flight to Goa at 4 p.m. yesterday? What’s so important in Goa? If yes, please call him back to Delhi. He is your old ABVP colleague as well,” the AAP leader wrote, urging Chief Minister Rekha Gupta to summon the minister.

Chief Minister Gupta, meanwhile, posted a reassuring update, saying that all relevant agencies were “working in coordination” and that rescue work was proceeding on a “war footing.” She promised that the government, together with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), would soon roll out a policy requiring periodic structural audits and safety certificates for any building used for public purposes – whether a paying‑guest accommodation, nursing home, school or similar facility.

The rescue effort has already saved twelve people, but teams are still sifting through the debris in hopes of finding any remaining victims. The death toll rose to six after a body was recovered late into the night. In parallel, authorities have moved swiftly to seal illegal five‑storey buildings across the capital and have filed an FIR against the owner, Hariram, who now faces a Look‑Out Circular.

In a press briefing, the Chief Minister emphasized that any MCD official found negligent would face strict action. The incident has reignited a long‑standing debate in Delhi over unchecked construction, lax inspections and the need for stronger enforcement of building‑safety norms.

While the city mourns the loss of lives, the political fallout continues to simmer. AAP’s criticism of Minister Sood’s absence adds another layer to the story, prompting questions about accountability and the speed with which officials respond in the wake of such disasters.