In the wake of the tragic deaths of three UPSC aspirants who drowned in a flooded coaching centre in Delhi, authorities have taken urgent action. On Monday, bulldozers were deployed to clear encroachments over drains in Old Rajinder Nagar, the area where the incident occurred. This measure follows the deaths of the three students at Rau’s Study Circle coaching centre, highlighting the critical need for improved drainage and flood management in the city.
The Delhi Police have arrested five more people, including the owner of the basement, in connection with the flooding at Rau’s IAS Study Circle. The owner of the vehicle that hit the gate of the coaching centre in Karol Bagh was also arrested. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has launched an anti-encroachment drive in Old Rajinder Nagar to clear illegal structures blocking storm drains, which contributed to the severe waterlogging. Bulldozers have been deployed near Rau’s IAS Study Circle to address these encroachments.
Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi is scheduled to hold an emergency meeting with civic officials at 3 pm to discuss the incident and response measures. The MCD is responsible for maintaining stormwater drains, and it has been alleged that the drainage system near the coaching centre in Old Rajinder Nagar was not functioning properly. This malfunction reportedly caused significant rainwater accumulation on the road, which subsequently flooded the basement.
Following the incident, the MCD terminated an officer and suspended another. The MCD Commissioner, Ashwani Kumar, had previously informed news agency PTI that encroachments had blocked storm drains in the area, causing severe waterlogging. This obstruction led to rainwater flooding the basement of the Rau’s Study Circle coaching centre. On Monday, the MCD Commissioner announced the termination of a junior engineer and the suspension of an assistant engineer from the Karol Bagh Zone’s maintenance department. The junior engineer’s contract has been terminated immediately, while the assistant engineer will receive a subsistence allowance during the suspension period. Their official termination and suspension orders are expected to be issued soon.
On Sunday, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi had sealed 13 illegal coaching centres in the area. On Monday, Delhi LG VK Saxena visited the coaching centre in Old Rajinder Nagar and spoke with students protesting the deaths of three civil services aspirants, who drowned after their institute’s basement was inundated with rainwater. The incident has sparked outrage and calls for accountability among the public and authorities alike, emphasizing the need for effective measures to prevent such tragedies from occurring again.
