New Delhi: In a tragic incident, three Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) aspirants lost their lives after the basement of Rau’s IAS Study Circle, a coaching center in Delhi’s Old Rajinder Nagar area, flooded due to heavy rain. The victims, identified as Shreya Yadav from Ambedkar Nagar, Uttar Pradesh; Tanya Soni from Telangana; and Nivin Dalwin from Ernakulam, Kerala, were trapped in the rapidly flooding basement.
Dead bodies retrieved after a challenging operation
The Delhi Fire Department received a distress call around 7:10 PM, reporting waterlogging and the possibility of people being trapped inside the coaching centre. Rescue teams from the Delhi Fire Service and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were dispatched. Upon arrival, they found the basement filled with water, initially estimated at a depth of 12 feet, which later receded to 8 feet. The bodies of the students were retrieved after a challenging operation hampered by ongoing rainwater inflow. The rescue operation concluded early in the morning.
Atul Garg, Director of Delhi Fire Services, provided details about the rescue operation. He explained that the fire department received a call about students trapped in the flooded basement due to heavy rain. Efforts to pump out the water were initially hindered as rainwater continued to flow into the basement. Once the water level on the road receded, the rescue team managed to retrieve the students’ bodies.
Further Investigations and legal actions
The Delhi Police have detained the owner and coordinator of Rau’s IAS Study Circle as part of the ongoing investigation into the incident.
A case has been registered under sections 105, 106 (1), 115 (2), 290, and 35 of the Indian Penal Code against Rau’s IAS coaching institute, the building’s management, and those responsible for maintaining the drainage system. This action aims to hold accountable those who may have been negligent in preventing the disaster.
In response to the incident, Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi directed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) commissioner to take strict action against coaching centres operating in basements in violation of building bye-laws. An inquiry will be launched to identify any MCD officers responsible for the tragedy. Mayor Oberoi emphasized that the strongest possible action would be taken against any officials found guilty.
BJP criticizes and holds Aap responsible for the tragic incident
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Bansuri Swaraj criticized the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, holding Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and local MLA Durgesh Pathak responsible for the tragedy. She claimed that residents had been requesting the cleaning of drainage systems for the past week, which went unaddressed. Swaraj emphasized that the deaths could have been prevented if the drainage issues had been resolved promptly.
Compensation of Rs. 1 Crore to the families of the deceased
AAP MP Swati Maliwal condemned the incident, describing it as a “murder” rather than a disaster. She demanded that an FIR be registered against the responsible government officials. Maliwal also called for compensation, suggesting that each of the deceased students’ families should receive ₹1 crore. She pledged to raise the issue in Parliament and hold the responsible parties accountable. Maliwal noted that students had previously informed a counselor about drainage issues in the area 12 days before the incident.
In memory of the deceased students, UPSC aspirants have planned a candle march near the Karol Bagh incident site. The incident has sparked a wave of grief and anger among the students’ community, prompting demands for immediate action and accountability from the authorities.
Mahi Saha
Mahi Saha, from Ranchi, reports for Neo Politico.
