On Saturday, three would-be civil officials perished after becoming stuck in the flooded basement of a tutoring center in Old Rajendra Nagar, Delhi. The Delhi fire department started a rescue operation at around 7 o’clock in the evening after receiving a report of waterlogging at the Rao IAS Study Center, according to the police. A criminal case has been opened by the authorities in connection with the students’ deaths.
The first victim, a female student, was retrieved by the combined efforts of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), local police, and fire department. Hours later, the bodies of two other students were discovered.
According to police reports, approximately 30 students were present in the coaching center when the flooding began. While 13 to 14 students were successfully rescued and taken to the hospital, others managed to escape the premises.
Fire Officer Atul Garg stated that five fire vehicles were dispatched to the scene upon receiving the distress call. Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Central, M Harshavardhan, reported that the rescue operations were ongoing, with water still being pumped out from the basement. “There is still about seven feet of water in the basement,” he told ANI. The rescue operation was nearing its conclusion, with only a final search round pending.
The incident sparked a protest by students against the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) at the scene. One student claimed that waterlogging occurred within minutes of rainfall. “Eighty percent of libraries are in the basements of the coaching center…MCD has not taken action on this,” the student said.
However, the police urged students to refrain from protesting to avoid disrupting rescue efforts. “I request the student community not to come here and hamper the rescue services. We share their pain, but coming here to the spot is not the solution,” DCP Harshavardhan stated.
The Delhi police have registered a criminal case and detained two individuals in connection with the incident. DCP Harshavardhan emphasized the commitment to a thorough investigation, stating, “Our forensic teams are here, and the process of collecting forensic evidence is underway. We are dedicated to ensuring a proper investigation and uncovering the truth.”
Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva criticized the AAP government, calling for an inquiry into the alleged corruption within the MCD. “There should be an inquiry into the corruption of Arvind Kejriwal, Atishi, and their government. Why was the drainage not cleaned?” he questioned.
BJP leader Shehzad Poonwalla also condemned the Kejriwal administration, labeling the incident as a “murder” due to criminal negligence. “The question is, who will take responsibility? The lives of Delhi’s people hold value. AAP’s priority seems to be press conferences and blame games, not the safety of residents,” he said in a video message.
Meanwhile, Delhi Minister Atishi assured that those responsible would be held accountable. “I am taking updates on the incident every minute. A magistrate has been ordered to investigate how this incident happened,” she wrote in a post on social media.
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