By Snehlata and Priya Tiwari | Tehelka Investigation
Delhi is called the city of dreams for lakhs of young people from across the country. Some come to the capital to become IAS officers, doctors or engineers, while others arrive with the dream of changing their family’s life. But the need for accommodation is forcing many students to live in paying guest (PG) houses where, despite paying high rents, basic safety arrangements themselves appear to be under question.
A Tehelka investigation into some PGs in Old Rajinder Nagar and Karol Bagh has found conditions that raise serious questions about the possibility of a major accident.
₹22,000 Rent — But What About Safety?
The Tehelka team carried out a reality check of a PG on the pretext of looking for a room. For a tiny room measuring around 4×7 feet, the rent quoted was around ₹22,000 per person per month. Food and electricity charges were separate.
The room had dampness and a foul smell. But the more shocking sight was outside it — a fire-safety device appeared to have expired.
The very equipment needed in an emergency like a fire was lying expired.
A student told the Tehelka team that the PG had allegedly received a notice from the fire-safety department a few days earlier.
However, when the team visited the premises, they could not find the alleged notice.
This raises questions: If objections had been raised over safety, where did the notice go? And was the PG allowed to continue housing students despite the action?
Exposed Wires, Open MCB Board — Students Living Below
The Tehelka camera captured another serious picture inside the PG. Exposed electrical wires were seen hanging, while the MCB board appeared to be open in several places, with wires coming out.
Students pass through this area every day.
But the danger doesn’t seem limited to the electrical wiring.
The building also has a wooden room inside.
Now imagine this: if a spark caused by a short circuit starts a fire and the flames reach the wooden room, what could happen?
Where is the exit?
Where is the fire exit?
What arrangements are there to safely evacuate students in an emergency?
Four-Storey Building, Around 70 Girls, Lakhs in Rent
The Tehelka investigation found that around 70 girls are reportedly living in the approximately four-storey building.
If each student pays around ₹22,000 a month, total room rent comes to about ₹15.40 lakh a month, excluding electricity charges.
On one side is a business generating lakhs of rupees, while on the other are serious questions about safety arrangements.
The corridors are extremely narrow, and the rooms are small. Dampness and foul smell were also reported at several places.
This raises another question: If dozens of students have to leave the building at the same time during an emergency, would the existing arrangements be sufficient?
From Factory to PG? Who Allowed the Change in Use?
A local tea seller told the Tehelka team that the premises where the PG is now being run were earlier a factory and were later converted into a PG.
If this claim is correct, the questions become more serious.
Was the land use changed?
Was permission obtained to change the building’s use?
Does the property have the necessary approvals to operate as a PG?
The concerned departments and the PG operator must answer these questions.
A Huge Business — But Who Is Checking Safety?
Areas such as Old Rajinder Nagar and Karol Bagh are filled with students preparing for competitive examinations. The PG and hostel business has also expanded rapidly around coaching centers.
A 2026 proposal linked to the Delhi government estimated that many PG accommodations operate in areas such as Rajinder Nagar, Mukherjee Nagar, Laxmi Nagar, and Karol Bagh.
But the question is not just about the number of PGs.
The question is about the rooms where students pay thousands of rupees every month to live.
Does every PG have the required Fire NOC?
Are all buildings being used according to Building Use rules?
Is the electrical wiring safe?
Are emergency exits available?
And does the administration regularly inspect these buildings?
Will the System Wake Up After an Accident — Or Before?
Incidents involving PGs and hostels in Delhi have raised concerns in the past. After every accident, there are promises of investigations, notices, and action. But after some time, the same questions return.
Tehelka’s investigation found:
Exposed electrical wires
An open MCB board
Damp rooms
Narrow corridors
An expired fire-safety device
And a wooden room
Amid these conditions, the biggest question remains:
Are these paying guest houses — or paying guest houses waiting for a disaster?
Parents send their children to Delhi to study and build their future. PG operators charge them thousands of rupees every month. In such circumstances, students’ safety cannot be an added facility; it must be the first responsibility.
Because children come to Delhi to fulfill their dreams — not to wait for a tragedy.
This is a Tehelka Investigation.
