Delhi News: In the tragic incident in Delhi‘s Old Rajinder Nagar, three civil service aspirants met with the death on Saturday when the basement of Rau’s IAS Study Circle Coaching Centre in Delhi got flooded after a heavy downpour. According to the reports, the victims have been identified as 25-year-old Tania Soni, 25-year-old Shreya Yadav, and 28-year-old Nevin Dalwin, who had gone missing formally, and their bodies were recovered by the joint team of Delhi Police, fire officials, and NDRF.
Library Traps Students Amid Floating Furniture
“We have registered a criminal case. Our forensic teams are here. The process of collecting forensic evidence is underway. We are committed to the fact that there should be a proper investigation. We are committed to registering a strong case and finding out the truth. Two people have been detained so far,” senior police officer M Harshavardhan said.
The Fire Department of Delhi was apparently informed around 7 p.m. by an emergency call that the basement at the coaching centre was filled with water, but by then the basement had already been filled. Preliminary investigations have revealed that there was a library in the basement, and the students of the coaching institute were stuck in the library. Floating furniture resisted the efforts of rescuers to reach the students, and the evacuation of students had to take place with the help of ropes. However, all such efforts to rescue the three aspirants went in vain.
Talking to reporters, DCP Harshavardhan said, “The caller told us that there was a possibility that some people were trapped. We are investigating how the entire basement was flooded. It appeared that the basement got flooded very fast, which caused some people to be trapped inside.”
Criminal Case Registered
A criminal case has been registered; two men have been arrested in connection with the incident. Delhi Minister Atishi has ordered the Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar to investigate the matter and submit the report within 24 hours. “A magisterial inquiry has been ordered to investigate how this incident happened. Whoever is responsible for this incident will not be spared,” Atishi posted on X.
It is the second tragic incident involving aspiring civil servants in the last few days. On July 23, 26-year-old engineer Nilesh Rai was electrocuted in Patel Nagar after he touched an iron gate that had been electrified because of heavy rain. Rai had stepped out of his PG accommodation to buy something at the moment of the incident. These events have definitely highlighted the need for increased safety in vulnerable areas and the potential risks caused by extreme weather.
Mayor Shelly Oberoi Orders Action Against Coaching Centres Violating Building Bye-Laws
The Mayor, Shelly Oberoi, has directed the MCD Commissioner to take speedy action against all coaching centers located in Delhi under the jurisdiction of the MCD that are carrying on commercial activities in basements contrary to building bye-laws and standards. She has announced that an inquiry would be promptly ordered into whether any MCD official was responsible for the disaster. In case an official is found guilty, the strongest possible action would be taken against him.