Tragic Incident at Rau’s IAS Study Circle
A devastating incident occurred at Rau’s IAS Study Circle in Delhi’s Old Rajinder Nagar, where a basement flooding led to the tragic deaths of three students. The Delhi Police arrested five more people on Monday, including the owner of the basement, following the arrests of Rau’s CEO and the coaching coordinator on Sunday. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has also taken action, sealing 13 coaching centers operating in basements in violation of regulations and setting up a high-level committee to probe the flooding incident.
How the Students Got Trapped
The flooding, caused by a burst nearby drain, rapidly filled the basement with 10-12 feet of water, trapping students inside. The victims were Shreya Yadav from Uttar Pradesh, Nivin Dalwin from Kerala, and Tanya Soni from Telangana. Eyewitnesses reported that the basement flooded so quickly that students had no chance to escape. A faculty member mentioned that a call was made to 112, but traffic jams delayed the arrival of rescuers. In response to the incident, Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi has ordered a citywide crackdown on coaching centers violating building bye-laws by conducting commercial activities in basements.
Sequence of Events
The incident began when heavy rains led to waterlogging on the roads in Old Rajinder Nagar, causing the gate of Rau’s IAS Study Circle to break and water to gush in. Approximately 20-25 students were in the basement at the time. The PUSA weather station, closest to Old Rajinder Nagar, reported 31.5 mm of rain between 5:30 PM and 8:30 PM on Saturday. Around 15 students managed to escape the basement, while security guards on the floor above cut the power supply to prevent electrocution. By 7 PM, the water level had risen to the road.
Delhi Police teams and five fire tenders arrived at the scene, carrying four pumps to drain water from the basement. The MCD also provided an additional pump. Despite their efforts, it took time to control the flooding and rescue the trapped individuals.
Rescue and Recovery Efforts
At around 7 PM, a call was received about the basement flooding and people being trapped inside. Due to heavy rains, there was significant waterlogging on roads and adjoining buildings. DCP Central M Harsha Vardhan described the incident, highlighting how the basement flooded quickly, trapping several people. About an hour later, divers from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were called to assist in the evacuation. Tragically, the bodies of Shreya Yadav, Tanya Soni, and Nivin Dalwin were recovered after extensive rescue operations.
Legal Actions and Protests
Following the search and rescue operations, the Delhi Police registered a criminal case early on Sunday, July 28. In response to the incident, the MCD sealed 13 coaching centers operating in basements, citing rule violations. The MCD has also formed a high-level committee to investigate the flooding incident. A month before the incident, a complaint was filed with the MCD regarding the alleged illegal use of the basement, with reminders sent on July 15 and July 22.
The incident sparked protests among students in Old Rajinder Nagar near the coaching center. Aam Aadmi Party MP Swati Maliwal joined the protests but faced resistance from students, who chanted slogans of “Go back Swati” and accused her of politicizing the tragedy. The protests caused significant traffic disruptions near the Karol Bagh Metro Station, necessitating police intervention.
Government and Regulatory Responses
Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena referred to the incident as indicative of broader governance issues in Delhi over the past decade. He directed Divisional Commissioner Manish Kumar Gupta to submit a comprehensive report on the flooding by Tuesday. Meanwhile, the National Commission for Women (NCW) has summoned AAP MLA from Delhi’s Rajinder Nagar, Durgesh Pathak, over the incident.
On Monday, the Delhi Police arrested five more individuals, bringing the total to seven. The arrests included the owner of the basement and Rau’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The ongoing investigations and legal actions underscore the severity of the incident and the need for stringent enforcement of safety regulations to prevent such tragedies in the future.
(With inputs from agencies)
