VARANASI/KANPUR, Sept. 9 -- Among those who died in the building collapse at Satya Niketan were two students from Uttar Pradesh; 20-year-old Abhishek Kharwar of Chandauli was preparing for competitive exams alongside his B Com degree, while 18-year-old Pawan Singh of Auraiya had just begun his BSc course.

For their families in Uttar Pradesh, the journey that began with hope ended with the arrival of their sons' bodies.

Kharwar had moved to Delhi in 2025 for higher studies, his family said, as he completed his second year of B Com and wanted to pursue an MBA. His father, Santosh Kharwar, had spoken to him on September 5 and paid his hostel fee, but a day later, he could not reach his son.

On Tuesday, Santosh performed his son's last rit...