Following the
Find out what's happened so far in the RAU's IAS Coaching Center tragedy...
in Rajendra Nagar, Delhi, where RAU’s IAS Coaching Center's owner Abhishek Gupta and coordinator Deshpal Singh have been arrested. The flooding in the
led to
identified as Shreya Yadav, Tania Soni, and Nevin Delvin. The police have filed an FIR under BNS Section 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 106 (1) (death due to negligence), 115/2 (voluntarily causing harm), 290 (negligence in building construction/repair), and 35. The coaching center's management and civic agency employees are under investigation.
Basement was Only Meant for Storage
According to a copy of the Fire NOC obtained by Aajtak, the basement was intended solely for storage purposes. The DFS chief confirmed this as a clear violation. Measures will be taken by writing to the DCP and MCD. The NOC was granted for storage, but they violated it by placing students there.
MCD Working to Remove Water
MCD supervisor Rishipal stated that most of the work is done, with only 3-4 inches of water remaining. All machines are operational. The building, including the basement, is fully evacuated. There are no trapped individuals. Post-incident, the Delhi Mayor ordered action against coaching centers violating building bylaws by operating in basements.
Mayor Orders Actions
Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi issued directives to the MCD Commissioner for strict action against all coaching centers operating in basements under MCD jurisdiction, in violation of building norms. These centers are required to comply with the standards, failing which, immediate stringent actions will be taken.
Source: aajtak
The Delhi Mayor emphasized immediate investigation into whether MCD officials are responsible for the tragedy. Any found guilty will face the strictest actions. The RAF unit is deployed outside the coaching center.
Student Protests Continue
Protests by students outside the coaching center have not stopped since the incident. Students are chanting slogans against MCD and the coaching center. The protesting students claim this disaster was due to sheer negligence and not just a natural disaster. One student said, 'For the past two years, knee-deep water accumulates within half an hour of rain. This has been happening for two years continuously. Real disasters occur occasionally but this has been happening regularly.'
Students Ask Swati Maliwal to Leave
Following the incident, Aam Aadmi Party's Member of Parliament Swati Maliwal visited the site on Sunday. Students present there requested her to leave, stating they don't want political involvement. Swati Maliwal posted on social media, 'Who will take responsibility for the deaths of three students who drowned in the basement in the capital?' BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya mentioned that the unfortunate deaths in Rajendra Nagar could have been avoided.
Delhi Government Orders Investigation
The Delhi government has ordered a magisterial investigation into the incident. The Aam Aadmi Party tweeted, 'Last night’s tragic incident in Rajendra Nagar has prompted Minister Atishi to direct Delhi's Chief Secretary to start an investigation and report within 24 hours.'
BJP Criticizes AAP
Delhi BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj claimed that the water filled the basement due to uncleaned drains. She stated that residents had repeatedly asked MLA Durgesh Pathak to clean the drains all week but were ignored, leading to water filling the basement. She added that divers were deployed for the rescue operation, indicating the severity of the situation. BJP leader RP Singh said timely desilting could have prevented this tragedy and demanded answers from the Delhi government and the MLA regarding the desilting funds.
