The basement of RAU's IAS coaching center in Old Rajendra Nagar, Delhi, unexpectedly filled with water on Saturday, resulting in the deaths of three students. The police have detained two individuals for questioning. The Delhi Police and the Fire Department are investigating how the water entered the basement based on two theories.
After the tragic deaths of students due to basement flooding at RAU's IAS coaching center, the investigation is focusing on whether coaching activities were being conducted in the basement and the circumstances surrounding the broken shed at the main gate. The police have detained the owner and coordinator of the coaching center.
How Did the Water Enter the Basement?
Sources say the gate of the coaching center, fitted with a steel shed to prevent water ingress, was closed after heavy rainfall. However, the street water pressure was so intense that it broke through the steel shed, flooding the basement and trapping the students inside.
Who Opened the Coaching Center's Gate?
The police are also investigating whether the gate was opened to allow a car to exit, causing a rapid influx of water. The basement is approximately 8 feet below ground level. The street water broke through the gate, flooding the basement and resulting in the deaths of three students. The police and fire teams are investigating based on these two theories. The coaching centers' survey initiated by the court after the Mukherjee Nagar coaching fire incident is still ongoing.
According to Delhi Fire Officer Atul Garg, the Rajendra Nagar coaching institute had a fire NOC, but previously it wasn't mandatory for coaching institutes in Delhi to have one. After the Mukherjee Nagar fire incident last year, numerous institutes underwent a mandatory fire safety survey by court order, requiring them to comply with building bylaws and obtain a fire NOC.
Atul Garg highlighted that many coaching institutes in Rajendra Nagar are operating without a fire NOC, as it was not a requirement in Delhi until recently.
What Does the Municipal Corporation Say?
Sources from the Delhi Municipal Corporation indicate that permission for running coaching centers in Rajendra Nagar is based on commercial building regulations. However, it remains to be investigated whether coaching activities were being conducted in the basement, as permission is typically granted only for upper floors.
Municipal sources note that the completion certificate, along with conversion and parking charges, have been submitted, and the building map is also approved.
According to the Delhi Fire Department, they received a call at 7 PM on Saturday about water flooding the basement of the coaching center, trapping several students. Given the gravity of the situation, an NDRF team initiated a rescue operation, deploying divers due to the extensive flooding.
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30 to 35 Students Were Studying in the Library
The basement of the coaching center houses a library, attracting a significant number of students. According to Delhi Fire Department Director Atul Garg, 30 students were present during the incident, with three becoming trapped. Rescue operations recovered the bodies of these students, comprising two female students and one male student.
Basement Filled Within 2-3 Minutes
Initial investigations reveal that the library in the basement had numerous students present when the sudden flooding occurred. Rescue ropes were thrown to retrieve trapped students. One student recounted that as the 7 PM library closure approached, water with immense pressure began flooding in. By the time they evacuated, water levels had risen to knee height. The water flow was so strong that climbing the stairs was nearly impossible. Within 2-3 minutes, the basement was inundated with 10-12 feet of water. Despite rescue attempts with ropes, visibility was poor due to the filthy water.
