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The tragic deaths of three civil service aspirants in a flooded basement in Delhi's Rajinder Nagar have sparked outrage and accusations of negligence against civic authorities. The incident underscores the perilous conditions often faced by students pursuing competitive exams, particularly in the heavily populated coaching hub of Rajinder Nagar. The tragedy occurred on Saturday evening, July 27, 2024, after a downpour led to waterlogging in the basement of a building housing Rau's IAS Study Circle, a popular coaching institute for civil services aspirants. At least 20 students were trapped in the library, with three succumbing to the floodwaters: Tania Soni and Shreya Yadav, both 25, and Navin Delvin, 28.
A month prior to the fatal incident, a complaint had been lodged highlighting the potential risks associated with using the basement as a library. Kishor Singh Kushwah, a civil service aspirant, had expressed concerns about the safety of students and staff due to the illegal operation of the library in the basement. Kushwah had sent the complaint, outlining the lack of necessary permits and the inherent dangers posed by the basement's use, to various authorities including the Centre, the state government, and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). His pleas went unheeded, leading to the devastating consequences of the flooding.
The MCD, responsible for ensuring building regulations are adhered to, had only permitted the basement to be used for storage and parking purposes. However, Rau's IAS Study Circle had been operating the library in violation of these regulations, highlighting the lack of enforcement and accountability within the city's regulatory framework. The complaint, which Kushwah sent through the government's public grievance portal, had warned of the potential for a 'big accident,' and he specifically urged authorities to take strict action against coaching centers that disregard safety norms. Despite the urgency and seriousness of the complaint, no concrete steps were taken to address the safety concerns raised by Kushwah.
Source: Month Before Delhi Basement Deaths, IAS Aspirant's SOS Flagged Huge Risk