New Delhi: In a devastating incident in West Delhi’s Old Rajender Nagar, three students lost their lives when the basement of a popular IAS coaching institute flooded. The tragedy has sparked widespread outrage and protests from students and the public. They are holding both the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and the coaching institute responsible for the negligence that led to the disaster.
Students, including Yuvraj and Ankit Bhadana, have been vocal in their criticism. Yuvraj accused the MCD of failing to ensure safety measures, stating, “MCD is responsible… they did not ensure safety measures. Both MCD and RAU’s IAS are at fault; they should be held jointly liable.” The students have been protesting since last night, demanding action from higher authorities, and expressed concern that the death toll might be higher.
Ankit Bhadana reported that approximately 20-25 students were trapped inside the coaching institute, and their whereabouts were still unknown. He criticized RAU’s IAS for not providing an official statement and noted that the government had yet to address the students’ concerns. Another protester highlighted the need to address the safety issues related to basement operations, calling for the immediate shutdown of illegally operating libraries and coaching institutes.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Central, M Harshavardhan, confirmed that a criminal case had been registered and forensic teams were on site. “We are committed to registering a strong case and finding out the truth. Two people have been detained so far,” he said. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has recovered three bodies and rescued approximately 13-14 others, some of whom have been hospitalized. The search operation is nearing its conclusion, with water being continuously pumped out of the flooded basement.
In response to the incident, Delhi BJP Chief Virendra Sachdeva has called for a thorough inquiry into the events leading up to and following the flooding. The situation remains under investigation as authorities continue their efforts to address the aftermath and prevent future tragedies.
