In a heart-wrenching incident, three aspiring civil servants lost their lives after being trapped in a flooded basement of a coaching center in Old Rajendra Nagar, Delhi, on Saturday. The Delhi Fire Department received an emergency call regarding waterlogging at the Rao IAS Study Centre around 7 pm, prompting a swift rescue operation. A criminal case has been registered by the police in response to the tragic deaths.
Rescue Efforts and Casualties
Initially, rescuers recovered the body of a female student from the site. Hours later, the bodies of two other students were also found. Authorities reported that approximately 30 students were present in the coaching center when it began to flood. While 13 to 14 of them were rescued and taken to the hospital, others managed to escape the site.
Fire Officer Atul Garg stated that five fire vehicles arrived at the location after receiving the flooding alert. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) M. Harshavardhan confirmed that rescue operations were ongoing and that around seven feet of water remained in the basement. He mentioned that the operation was nearing completion, with only one final round of search pending.
Student Protest and Municipal Corporation Response
Following the recovery of the bodies, a group of students staged a protest against the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) at the site. One student highlighted the recurring issue of waterlogging at the center, claiming that “80 percent of libraries are in the basements of the coaching center… MCD has not taken action on this.”
The police urged students to refrain from protesting, as it could impede the rescue efforts. DCP Harshavardhan appealed to the student community, saying, “We share their pain, but coming here to the spot is not the solution. It will hamper the rescue services.”
Legal Action and Political Reactions
The Delhi police have registered a criminal case and detained two individuals in connection with the incident. DCP Harshavardhan emphasized the commitment to a thorough investigation, stating, “We are committed to registering a strong case and finding out the truth.”
Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva criticized the AAP government, calling for an inquiry into alleged corruption within the MCD. “There should be an inquiry as to why the drainage was not cleaned. Will they order an inquiry into this?” he questioned.
BJP leader Shehzad Poonwalla also condemned the Kejriwal-led administration, labeling the incident as “criminal negligence.” In a video message, he accused the AAP of prioritizing press conferences and blame games over the lives of Delhi residents.
Meanwhile, Delhi minister Atishi assured that those responsible would “not be spared.” She announced that a magistrate has been appointed to investigate the circumstances leading to the incident, stating, “I am taking updates on the incident every minute.”
This tragic event has sparked outrage and calls for accountability as Delhi grapples with the consequences of inadequate infrastructure and emergency preparedness.
