The police have registered a criminal case and are investigating the incident.
Digital Desk: Students are staging protests against the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and the management of an IAS coaching institute in Old Rajender Nagar, West Delhi, following a tragic incident in which three students lost their lives after the basement flooded.
According to police, the three students died in the basement of the IAS coaching institute yesterday. Yuvraj, a UPSC aspirant, criticized both the MCD and the coaching institute for negligence, asserting, "The MCD is responsible for failing to ensure safety measures. Both the MCD and RAU’s IAS are at fault and should be held jointly liable. We’ve been protesting since last night with no response from higher authorities. We fear the death toll might be higher," Yuvraj told ANI.
Ankit Bhadana, another UPSC aspirant, voiced concern about the safety of students still trapped, saying, "About 20-25 students are trapped inside the coaching institute where the incident occurred, and their current status is unknown. No official from RAU’s IAS has made a statement, and the government has yet to address the students," Bhadana reported to ANI.
Another student addressed safety issues, demanding, "Action must be taken against those responsible for this negligence. The basement operations are illegal and lack proper safety measures. We need immediate action."
Aman Shukla, also a UPSC aspirant, stressed the need to halt illegal basement operations, saying, "We demand the closure of all illegally operating libraries in basements. The MCD should address this issue promptly. Despite the previous flooding, no action has been taken in a year, and no senior official has visited the site," Shukla said.
Another protester highlighted the persistent problem of basement safety, stating, "80% of libraries are located in basements, where water accumulates within minutes of rainfall. The MCD has failed to act on this issue."
In response to Minister Atishi's order for a magisterial inquiry, a protester said, "We need a government representative to take responsibility for the students who lost their lives. The response from officials seems disconnected from the real issue."
A student also criticized the official response, saying, "The MCD calls it a disaster, but it is clear negligence. Water collects knee-deep within half an hour of rain. My landlord has been urging the councillor to clean the drain for days. Our immediate demand is transparency regarding the number of injuries and deaths."
Expressing frustration, a student remarked, "The main culprits are the MCD and the institute's director for neglecting the students' safety."
The police have registered a criminal case and are investigating the incident. "The unfortunate event occurred at a coaching center in Old Rajender Nagar. After search and rescue operations, three bodies were recovered, and their families have been notified. The investigation is ongoing," Delhi Police stated on X.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Central, M. Harshavardhan, added, "A criminal case has been registered, and forensic teams are gathering evidence. We are determined to build a strong case and uncover the truth. Two people have been detained so far."
"The NDRF has recovered three bodies, which have been sent for legal processing. The water is being pumped out continuously, with one final search operation pending. Some trapped students have been rescued, with three sent to the hospital. In addition to the three deceased, 13-14 others have been rescued and are in good condition," DCP Harshavardhan said.
Delhi BJP Chief Virendra Sachdeva has called for an inquiry into the incident, stating, "There should be an investigation into the corruption of Arvind Kejriwal, Atishi, and their government. An inquiry is needed to determine why the drainage system was not maintained. Will they investigate this matter?"
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