Three UPSC aspirants tragically lost their lives in a flooded basement of a popular IAS coaching institute in Delhi’s Old Rajinder Nagar area on Saturday. The incident has sparked outrage and calls for accountability, highlighting the blatant disregard for safety norms by coaching centres operating illegally in basements. The incident has ignited a wave of public anger, with several students taking to the streets near the Karol Bagh metro station to protest the deaths. The protesters highlighted the widespread safety violations at coaching centres across the city, questioning the Delhi government’s negligence in addressing the issue. Some protesters were detained by police.
Following the tragedy, Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi demanded strict action against coaching centres that flout building regulations by operating illegally in basements. She revealed that the building’s completion certificate, issued in 2021, explicitly designated the basement for parking and storage purposes only. The North MCD had also issued a certificate permitting the basement for storage, parking, and toilets, but the coaching centre had disregarded these regulations and established a library in the basement.
The incident has raised serious questions about corruption and lax enforcement of safety regulations in the city. Former Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) Chief Swati Maliwal alleged that the operation of illegal basements in Delhi is rife with corruption, suggesting that bribes are exchanged to overlook safety violations. The incident also exposed the city’s crumbling drainage infrastructure, which, according to a News 18 report, contributed to the flooding. Students revealed that they had repeatedly alerted the coaching centre about the failing drainage system ten days prior to the incident, but their concerns were ignored.
Adding to the tragedy, the library in the basement had a biometric system installed, which locked the doors without fingerprint verification. When the water started to rise and the power supply went off, the doors remained locked, leaving the students trapped. This incident underscores the need for stringent safety measures and enforcement to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.
The Delhi Police have identified the victims as Shreya Yadav from Ambedkar Nagar district of Uttar Pradesh, Tanya Soni from Telangana, and Nivin Dalwin, a resident of Ernakulam, Kerala. The police have registered a case against the coaching institute, the building management, and those responsible for the maintenance of the drain. The owner and coordinator of the coaching centre have been detained, and the investigation is ongoing.
Following the incident, calls for an inquiry have intensified, with demands for accountability from the Delhi government. The Delhi Mayor has requested an investigation into the role of MCD officers in the incident, while Swati Maliwal has called for an FIR to be registered against officials who turned a blind eye to the safety violations. The Delhi BJP has demanded an inquiry into the corruption within the Delhi government, particularly regarding the drainage system and the lack of action taken to address the issue.
This tragic incident has shone a harsh spotlight on the systemic failures in Delhi, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive reform in safety regulations, infrastructure, and governance. It is imperative that the authorities take swift and decisive action to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.
