Delhi Rau's IAS Coaching Centre Mishap: 3 Students Drowned In Flooded Basement

New Delhi: Three civil service aspirants lost their lives when the basement of a coaching center in Delhi flooded following heavy rains on Saturday. The tragic incident occurred at Rau's IAS Study Circle in Old Rajinder Nagar.

Officials from the Delhi Fire Department confirmed to news agency PTI that they received an emergency call about a flooded basement around 7 PM. The caller indicated that people might be trapped inside.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central Delhi) M Harshavardhan informed reporters that they were investigating the cause of the rapid flooding, which resulted in several individuals becoming trapped. Upon arrival, fire department personnel found the basement already inundated with water.

Search and Rescue Operations

Initially reported missing, the three students, one male and two females, were later found deceased after a search operation conducted by Delhi Police, fire officials, and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). Efforts to pump water out of the basement were underway.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the basement housed a library where many students were present during the incident. Harshavardhan stated that a criminal case had been registered and two individuals were detained in connection with the incident. Forensic teams were on site collecting evidence to ensure a thorough investigation.

Rescue Challenges and Student Protests

Rescue operations were hindered by floating furniture in the flooded basement, necessitating the use of ropes to evacuate trapped students. In the aftermath, students protested against the authorities, blaming them for the deaths of the aspirants. The demonstrations continued into early Sunday.

Government Response and Accountability

Revenue Minister Atishi instructed Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar to conduct an inquiry and provide a report within 24 hours. "A magisterial inquiry has been ordered to determine the cause of this incident. Those responsible will be held accountable," Atishi posted on X.

Political Reactions and Blame

Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva and New Delhi MP Bansuri Swaraj visited the site, attributing the tragedy to the AAP administration's negligence. They criticized the local MLA for ignoring repeated requests from residents to clean the drains.

"Delhi Government's criminal negligence is responsible for this mishap. Jal Board Minister Atishi and local MLA Durgesh Pathak should take responsibility and resign," Sachdeva asserted.