The collapse of a multi-storey building in south Delhi's Saket area is not a routine mishap one sees around every day. The tragedy, which claimed six lives, has shattered dreams and aspirations of many students who were taking coaching in the building for various professional exams.
The incident has sent shockwaves through a neighbourhood known as a hub for students preparing for medical and engineering admissions abroad.The day after the tragic incident, many aspirants described scenes of panic, dust, and devastation that disrupted months of intense preparation.
Located near Saket Metro station, the Said-Ul-Ajaib area is dotted with libraries, coaching institutes, hostels, and eateries that cater to hundreds of students, including Foreign Medical Graduate (FMG) aspirants and candidates preparing for examinations such as NEET, GATE and other competitive tests.
For many in the area, however, the collapse has altered the character of a neighbourhood built around academic ambition. Students and locals said the neighbourhood attracts aspirants from across India and even foreign nationals pursuing studies or coaching programmes.
"The locality remains crowded throughout the day due to the concentration of coaching centres, libraries, offices, salons, educational institutes and co-working spaces," a resident said.A student from Janakpuri, who lives in the area on rent, said the tragedy has left many aspirants struggling to focus on their studies."We have been preparing for months. Many of us came here from different states only to study. But now we have to somehow continue because there is no other option," he said.
Visuals from the collapse site showed a multi-storey commercial-residential building along a narrow lane, with a thick cloud of dust rising from its lower and middle floors as residents and bystanders gathered outside in shock.Anil, an MBA graduate from Bokaro in Jharkhand who has lived in Delhi for the past year, lost his friend Raji in the collapse. He was studying in a library in an adjoining building when the incident occurred.
"There were several students in the library. We felt tremors, but there was no loud sound. Within moments, the building had collapsed," he said. Many students preparing for competitive examinations are now left traumatised; some lost friends, while others suffered injuries. "We were already under stress because of our exams. Now, nobody can focus. An important exam is coming up on June 28, and many students are mentally affected by what happened," Anil added.
Several students noted that the library next to the collapsed structure housed around 150 students at the time. "We felt very strong vibrations. The ground seemed to be buzzing and shaking back and forth. Everyone panicked and rushed outside," a student said.
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