In Central Delhi’s Old Rajender Nagar area, three students lost their lives due to water flooding in the basement of the Rao IAS Study Circle. Among the deceased are two young women. This tragic incident unfolded on Saturday, and governing bodies only began responding three days later, on Monday. The central government has since formed a seven-member high-level committee to delve into the incident, determine accountability, suggest policy changes, and report back within 30 days. Their aim is to propose measures that can prevent such calamities in the future.
Meanwhile, Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor, V.K. Saxena, visited the site on Monday and spoke to the students. The LG assured that those responsible would be held accountable and that swift actions would follow. He also announced a compensation of 1 million rupees each for the families of the three students who perished in the incident. Despite these assurances, the students’ anger remained unabated; they demanded justice, not just compensation.
Protests by BJP and Congress Against AAP
Monday saw significant political upheaval over the incident. There were outbursts in the MCD House, leading to the suspension of proceedings. The Congress party, which had allied with the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi, also took to the streets in protest. BJP and Congress leaders sat on a dharna immediately after the MCD meeting was adjourned. The BJP criticized the Kejriwal government, staging protests outside the AAP office against the Jal Board, Fire Services, and MCD, demanding the resignation of CM Kejriwal. Concurrently, AAP demanded the dismissal of officials who allegedly failed to issue timely directives for gutter cleaning and staged their own protest near the LG Secretariat.
Case Echoes in Parliament
The incident also resonated in Parliament, where BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj held the Delhi government accountable. Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav questioned whether bulldozers, used for encroachments in UP, would be employed here. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor emphasized the need to adhere to safety standards and clean gutters to prevent such recurrences.
Source: aajtak
Delhi Police has also issued notices to MCD, seeking information. They asked which officer was responsible for drainage in Old Rajinder Nagar and who handled area maintenance. Was any work contracted out in the area?
MCD Takes Action, Brings Bulldozers
Delhi Corporation teams showed up in force on Monday, wielding bulldozers to dismantle encroachments around the coaching center areas in Old Rajinder Nagar. Rainwater drains covered by encroachments were demolished. This operation is expected to continue for a few days. Prior MCD operations had sealed approximately 20 coaching centers in Old Rajinder Nagar and Mukherjee Nagar where basements were unlawfully used for libraries and classes. MCD officials claimed encroachments choked the drainage system, leading to flooding. As a result of the investigation, one JEN was dismissed from service, and one AEN was suspended. A show-cause notice was issued to a regional XEN.
The investigation revealed that heavy rain led to water accumulating on the roads, exacerbated by encroachments covering roadside drains, preventing proper cleaning and drainage. When flooding occurred, water surged onto the roads.
Seven Arrests So Far
Police have made seven arrests so far, including coaching center owner Abhishek Gupta, coordinator Deshpal, the four building owners, and the SUV driver Manuj Kathuria, whose vehicle exacerbated the flooding by breaking the coaching center’s gate. All seven have been remanded to 14-day judicial custody in Tihar Jail. The building owners are identified as Tejinder Singh, Parvinder Singh, Harvinder Singh, and Sarabjit Singh.
How did the Incident Happen?
On Sunday, the deceased were identified as Shreya Yadav (22) from UP, Tanya Soni (21) from Telangana, and Nevin Dalvin (29) from Kerala. Rajinder Nagar police have filed an FIR for involuntary manslaughter, deaths due to negligence, building maintenance negligence, and intentional harm. The FIR states that inadequate drainage led to the basement flooding. There was only one entry-exit point in the basement, and the library was operating illegally. The failure of the biometric system due to flooding exacerbated the situation. If the exit had been free, students could have escaped. The basement flooded 12 feet deep within three minutes, taking over five hours to remove the water due to inadequate drainage.
Can Agencies Prevent Such Incidents?
The big question now is whether the late-awoken agencies can prevent incidents like Old Rajinder Nagar from recurring. Historically, government agencies remain active for a few days post-incident, enforcing strict rules, but later revert to the status quo, leaving systems unregulated and endangering lives. In Delhi, these incidents expose systemic failures and endanger lives. Responsibilities are shared among the central government, Delhi government, LG, and MCD. Post-incident, there are fierce promises of stringent measures and action against some officials, but over time, the systems slacken. In June 2023, a fire broke out in a Mukherjee Nagar coaching center, forcing students to jump from the third floor to save their lives. This incident had raised questions on fire brigade NOCs and construction standards. Similar to now, audits and promises were made, but the situation reverted, leading to questioning of systems again by the recent tragedy in Old Rajinder Nagar. Delhi has a long list of such incidents.
Source: aajtak
Post-incident, the LG office announced a survey by an MCD and DFS joint task force, initiated under a Delhi High Court order, to inspect all buildings in Rajinder Nagar. They will seal all basements and illegal structures violating building bylaws, MPD 2021, and fire safety standards.
Ineffective Handling Despite Complaints
The investigation has shown that the building owner received a clearance certification from MCD that specified the basement was for parking and storage only, yet a library operated there. The Delhi Fire Service renewed this building’s NOC for three more years on July 9. A student, Kanishka Tiwari, had also filed a complaint with the PWD on June 24 about waterlogging in the coaching center’s basement. She raised concerns about the area's waterlogging problem, to which PWD officials responded that her complaint was forwarded to MCD.
Sources reveal that a student had lodged a complaint with the Delhi government a month before about the illegal library in the basement. However, no action was taken. This isn’t the first instance of basement flooding due to rainwater. Several buildings in Old Rajinder Nagar operate libraries in basements that flood during rains. Police found evidence that building owners rented out the basement to coaching centers in 2021 without proper drainage arrangements. Further inquiries into the clearance certificate are expected with MCD officials.
Expectations from the System....
Preventing incidents like Old Rajinder Nagar requires agencies to operate on multiple levels. Swift action, regular inspections, and better planning are essential to prevent mishaps in densely populated areas like Delhi. Though these measures may not entirely eliminate risks, they significantly reduce potential dangers. Active agency involvement, coupled with vigilant citizens, can prevent such calamities.
Stringent Rules and Inspections:
Strict rules must be enforced for construction activities, and regular inspections are crucial. Active involvement of local municipal bodies and development authorities is necessary.
Fire Safety:
Ensuring availability and proper functioning of fire safety equipment in buildings is essential. Fire drills and emergency exit plans should be mandated for every building.
Identification of Sensitive Areas:
Identifying sensitive areas and focusing special attention on them is important to ensure construction safety and minimize disaster risks.
Community Participation:
Raising awareness among local residents is crucial. Encouraging them to report any unsafe activities through helplines or online platforms can make a significant difference.
Structural Integrity:
Regular checks for structural integrity of old buildings are necessary. Immediate rectification is required if any danger is identified.
Active Surveillance:
Agencies must conduct active surveillance of construction sites and take immediate action if any irregularities are detected.
Modern Technology Utilization:
Utilizing drones and other technological tools for construction site monitoring and inspections can provide better oversight.
Compliance with Regulations:
Ensuring compliance with all construction-related regulations is essential. Strict actions are needed against any detected violations.
Source: aajtak
