The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) took decisive action on Sunday by sealing the basements of 13 civil service coaching centres in Delhi. This crackdown follows the tragic incident where three students lost their lives in a waterlogged basement of a coaching centre in Old Rajendra Nagar.
Tragic Incident and Rescue Efforts
The tragedy unfolded on Saturday evening at around 6:35 pm, when rainwater filled the basement of Rau’s IAS coaching centre. The basement, originally designated for parking and storage as per the building plan, was being used as a library. When the flooding occurred, there were at least 30 students in the basement. While some managed to escape, 12 to 14 students had to be rescued and taken to the hospital. Unfortunately, three students were unable to make it out alive.
The authorities received a distress call at around 7:10 pm. The police and fire department officials quickly responded, pumping out the water from the basement. However, the situation required the intervention of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) as divers were needed to reach the trapped students.
Mounting Pressure and Protests
In the aftermath of the incident, students have been protesting, demanding justice for the victims and stricter enforcement of regulations. Rahul Sharma, a civil service aspirant, voiced the sentiments of many protesters, stating, “We must take concrete steps now to prevent a similar incident from happening again.” Sharma, along with hundreds of other aspirants, has been staging a sit-in near Rau’s IAS Study Circle.
On Monday evening, the protesting students held a candlelight vigil near the institute, some using their phone flashlights to honor the memory of the deceased students—Shreya Yadav from Uttar Pradesh, Tanya Soni from Telangana, and Nevin Dalwin from Kerala.
Political and Public Response
The incident has sparked outrage among Lok Sabha members from various parties, all demanding a thorough inquiry. Protesters have accused the MCD of negligence, pointing out the chronic issue of waterlogging in Rajinder Nagar and the illegal use of basements as libraries.
Sharma and other protesters emphasized the need for accountability, with Sharma stating, “More students will die if we neglect this incident. We won’t get justice for our fellow students. If we don’t fight for our right now, how will we serve the nation in the future? This is sheer negligence on the part of the authorities.”
The Delhi coaching centre tragedy has brought to light severe issues regarding safety and regulation compliance in educational institutions. The actions taken by the MCD and the ongoing protests by students underscore the urgent need for systemic changes to prevent such incidents in the future. As the investigation continues, the focus remains on ensuring justice for the victims and implementing measures to safeguard the lives of students.
