Canteen Owner Dies Saving Students in Saket Building Collapse

On Saturday evening, a local canteen owner died after rushing back inside her shop to warn students of an impending building collapse in the Saidulajab area, near the Saket Metro station.

The victim, Parvati Ojha, was a Nepal-born woman in her early 50s who had operated the small canteen for more than two decades. She was well-known in the neighborhood for serving affordable meals to students preparing for competitive examinations.

The incident occurred when a three-storey commercial building in Saidulajab collapsed, bringing down parts of the adjoining canteen. The collapse triggered a massive rescue operation, with several people feared trapped under the debris.

According to relatives, Ojha and her brother-in-law, Hari Prasad Ojha, initially stepped outside after noticing unusual vibrations and trembling from the neighboring building.

However, after realizing that about 20 to 25 students were still inside and around the canteen, Ojha ran back inside to alert them and help them escape.

Hari Prasad Ojha said his sister-in-law had just completed an order of 12 aloo parathas and four cold coffees before the trembling began. He stated that she ran back inside because she wanted to save the students, but she never returned. The falling structure crashed onto the canteen, trapping her under the debris.

Local students mourned her death, describing her as a mother figure who supported them while they lived away from their families. Moosan, a Foreign Medical Graduate aspirant who was near the site at the time of the collapse, said that Ojha always made them feel like family and would prepare meals for them even if they were not on the menu.