Delhi Coaching Centre Deaths Updates: Scary Visuals Of Flooded Basement Surface; Students Detained During Protest

Three civil services aspirants have died after the basement of a building housing a coaching centre was flooded following heavy rain in central Delhi's Old Rajinder Nagar area.

Delhi Fire Department received a call about waterlogging from Rau's IAS Study Circle at around 7 pm on Saturday about the basement of the coaching institute being flooded.

A fire department official said that a total of five tenders were rushed to the site. The basement was full of water when they arrived.

The bodies of two female students and a male student were retrieved from the site during the rescue operation by the NDRF, local police and fire department, the official said.

The authorities did not reveal the identities of the deceased.

Preliminary investigation suggests that the basement housed a library where several students were present. Water suddenly started flooding the basement. Ropes were used to evacuate the trapped students, the officials said.

The furniture in the coaching centre started floating when it was flooded and this created obstruction in the rescue operation, a police officer said.

Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi directed the MCD Commissioner that all such coaching centres across Delhi which are under the jurisdiction of MCD and running commercial activities in basements which are in violation of building bye-laws and are not as per norms, strict action should be taken against them immediately.

She said that an immediate enquiry to be conducted to identify if any officers of MCD are responsible for this tragedy. If any official is found guilty, strongest possible action be taken against them.

A protesting student alleges 'infrastructural negligence' and demands justice, she told PTI, "I am here till last night. The incident has happened due to the negligence of the administration. Water was overflowing. It entered the library, there was 12-feet water. As a result, students could not get out. It is a common problem (infrastructure) here. All the institutes have infrastructural negligence. Many dreams have shattered. I urge the students to join the protest. Anybody who empathise with us, should protest with us so that justice is served. It will kill our souls. It is onus of the government to ensure justice. It is a societal loss."

The owner and coordiantor of an IAS Coaching Centre in Delhi's Old Rajendra Nagar have been arrested by police officials. 

DCP Central M Harshavardhan told ANI, "Case registered under sections 105, 106 (1), 115 (2), 290 and 35 of BNS. This case is against the coaching institute and the management of the building and those who were responsible for the maintenance of the drain of that place...so far we have detained the owner and coordinator of that coaching centre...further investigation underway."

Over 30 students were trapped inside the basement of Rau's IAS Study Circle in Old Rajinder Nagar and most of them were able to escape after rainwater gushed inside.

The three students who drowned and died have been identified as Shreya Yadav, native of Ambedkar Nagar district of UP, Tanya Soni, whose permanent address is Telangana and Nivin Dalwin, a resident of Kerala's Ernakulam.

There is a heavy police and Rapid Action Force (RAF) deployment at the spot where three students lost their lives after flooding in the basement.

AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal visited the coaching centre spot where protests were being held on Sunday and spoke to the reporters.

Maliwal said, “This isn’t a natural disaster. It’s a murder. FIR should be registered and strict actions should be taken against those who are involved in this. Rs 1 crore compensation should be given to the families of the students who lost their lives. Delhi government Ministers conduct press conferences in AC rooms. Delhi Mayor earlier asked people to enjoy the monsoon. Is this enjoyment? There is anger among students. They have been sitting here since last night but no one yet came to meet them."

Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva speaking to PTI on the matter said, "This is not an incident but a murder. Students come to Delhi to make their future, but they have become a victim of corruption. Nobody is answering how library was established in the basement. There was an incident in Mukherjee Nagar, the Delhi govt had launched the investigation. What has happened to the investigation? Delhi Minister (Atishi) has still not reached the spot. The locals were asking for cleaning of drainage. Whoever is responsible should be punished. What is the fault of students?"

MCD officials reached the coaching centre in Delhi's Old Rajinder Nagar area on Sunday morning where three students died after flooding in the basement.

The owner and coordinator of the coaching centre arrested by the Delhi Police after they were detained this morning.

ongress President Devender Yadav speaking on the matter said, , "...I do not want to politicise this whole issue but at the same time we have to see that today the (Delhi) government is proving to be a complete failure. It is not able to provide water, waterlogging is happening... Who permitted to run the institute in the basement? We should pay attention to this."

He further added, "Kejriwal ji continuously writes letters to maintain his position, but now we should also see the condition of Delhi today...His ministers are not able to do anything today. The situation is that the minister, who should have reached the spot immediately, has not reached there... We have said earlier also that if they are not able to run the government, then an all-party meeting should be called, discussions should be held and solutions to these problems should be found. The work is not going to be done with just a few hours of sympathy. The infrastructure of Delhi looks completely destroyed today and the attention of this government should be drawn towards this. They should take moral responsibility and if you see their entire tenure, they are continuously failing..."

A relative of Shreya Yadav, one amongst three deceased students, Dharmendra Yadav told media, "I received no information officially, either from the coaching institute or administration. I saw the news and approached there, I went to the mortuary and asked them to show me the face for identification but they denied saying it was a police case. They showed me a paper where her (Shreya Yadav) name was written... When the news of students being deceased started coming up since I was there with her at the time of her admission, I called the coaching institute, they said we couldn't tell the name but two causalities had happened... Those who have given birth, only know the value of life and it shouldn't be lost due to mismanagement. I demand that a case of culpable homicide should be lodged against the owner of the coaching institute..."

Deputy Commissioner of Police M Harsha Vardhan elaborating on the cases filed against the owner and coordinator of Rao's IAS Study Circle where 3 students died in flooded basement on Saturday, said, "We have registered an FIR at Rajinder Nagar Police Station under sections 105 (culpable homicide), 106(1) (death of any person by doing any rash or negligent act not amounting to culpable homicide), 115(2) (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 290 (negligent conduct with respect to pulling down, repairing or constructing buildings) and 35 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and launched an investigation."

Delhi Police deployed drones near the coaching centre building where three civil services aspirants died after the flooded basement following heavy rain in central Delhi's Old Rajinder Nagar area.

AAP leader Durgesh Pathak speaking about the incident of deaths in Delhi coaching centre said, “This is very unfortunate. I will talk about the whole of Delhi. After such incidents, we all should say that enough is enough. This building only has permission for storage and parking but they have built a coaching centre and a library inside. There are many buildings like this. I request the government and MCD to visit every such institute and investigate."

Former JNU student union president Aishee Ghosh informed the media that one of the IAS aspirants who died in the Delhi coaching centre flood was from JNU.

Ghosh said, "One person who has lost his life was from JNU. We along with his PhD supervisor are here (hospital) to identify him. Students come here from different places with dreams. It’s unfortunate that around three students have lost their lives."

Among the students who died, there was one from Kerala named Nivin Dalwin. The friends of Dalwin have confirmed his body.

Toni, member of Delhi Malayalee Association said they will be contacting the family and informed that Kerala government is involved in this process.

Toni also mentioned, "There are many places where libraries are there in basements. The MCD, police should take steps to avoid this situation in future. Loss of life should not happen due to carelessness."

Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal on Sunday met the families of two victims and consoled them.

Maliwal told reporters, “I met with the families of two girl students who lost their lives. They are crying and only demanding strict actions against those who are involved in this. It’s shameful that no (AAP) Minister and (Delhi) Mayor have come here yet to meet them."

Delhi Police shared the identity of the two people arrested in the coaching centre flood deaths case. The owner and coordinator are Abhishek Gupta and Deshpal Singh respectively.

In a post in Hindi on X, Gandhi said, "The death of students preparing for competitive exams due to waterlogging in the basement of a building in Delhi is very unfortunate. A few days ago, a student died due to electric shock during the rains."

He expressed heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families.

"This collapse of infrastructure is a combined failure of the system. The common citizen is paying the price of unsafe construction, poor town planning and irresponsibility of institutions at every level by losing his life," the former Congress chief said.

A safe and comfortable life is the right of every citizen and the responsibility of governments, Gandhi asserted.

Speaking on the deaths of IAS aspirants, Congress leader Pawan Khera said, "Three young lives were lost because of water entering into the basement of a coaching centre. This can't be a natural disaster, this is a man-made disaster. The students had come from far-off places to study in Delhi. But what is the system of filtering out illegal structures from legal structures? Is the MCD looking into it? What about the drainage system? All these questions plague these controversies around these deaths. Last week, a student died after touching a live wire. Is this how we should treat students coming to Delhi? Action has to be taken, accountability has to be fixed, and Delhi cannot be seen as such an insensitive city."

Speaking to reporters on investigation regarding the Delhi coaching centre after flooding in basement killed three students, Delhi Fire Services Director Atul Garg said, "The building had been given a fire NOC with the basement to be used for storage and parking. The owner misused it, we will take action against them and we will now withdraw their NOC."

Disclaimer: Disturbing Visuals Inside

People who were present inside the Rau's IAS Study Circle basement on Saturday while water gushed down inside killing three IAS aspirants had captured the moments.

Some of the visuals have surfaced on social media.

Disclaimer: Disturbing Visuals Inside

The Fire department teams that conducted a search operation after pumping out water from the basement of Rau's coaching centre in Delhi on Saturday found three bodies of students from inside.

Many videos of the search and rescue operation were taken and have been shared online. Social media users have slammed the government and the institution authorities for negligence.

Expressing condolence over the deaths of IAS aspirants in Delhi, LG VK Saxena in a post on X said, "I am deeply anguished by the death of 3 Civil Services aspirants due to water logging in the basement of a coaching centre and that of another student due to water logging related electrocution. That this should happen in the Capital of India is most unfortunate & unacceptable."

He said, "The role of coaching institutions and landlords in not ensuring basic safety of students, who pay hefty fees and rents, away from their homes needs to be looked into."

"What has been happening is unpardonable and such issues can no more be glossed over. I have asked the Divisional Commissioner to submit a report, covering every aspect of the tragic incident by Tuesday," he added.

Delhi Minister and AAP leader Gopal Rai said, “This is unfortunate. MCD Mayor (Shelly Oberoi) has given the immediate directions for investigation."

Delhi Congress chief Devendra Yadav told reporters, “Students are staging an agitation and they are not listening to political persons. Their agitation is right because they have lost their colleagues and friends. Those who are responsible should be punished. I have also come here to participate in their fight and will not leave till justice is served."

Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal interacted with the kin of the students who lost their lives, in Old Rajinder Nagar's coaching centre after it's basement was flooded with rainwater.

Students gathered in large numbers at Karol Bagh metro station to protest against the death of three students at a coaching institute in Old Rajinder Nagar after flooding in basement of the building. They shouted, 'We want justice'.

Union Minister G Kishan Reddy on Sunday expressed his condolences on the death of a civil services aspirant from Secunderabad here due to flooding in the basement of a coaching centre in Delhi.

The Union Coal and Mines Minister, who represents Secunderabad Lok Sabha constituency, in a post on 'X' said he spoke to Tania Soni's father Vijay Kumar and extended his support and prayers to the family.

"Saddened by the tragic demise of Ms. Tania Soni, a resident of Secunderabad who lost her life in the flooding at an IAS coaching center in Rajinder Nagar, New Delhi. Personally spoke to her father, Shri Vijay Kumar, and expressed my deepest condolences," Reddy said.

The Union Minister further said his office in Delhi is in contact with the police and other officials to ensure all necessary formalities are completed swiftly.

The Delhi Fire Services faced multiple challenges during the rescue operation at a coaching centre where three civil services aspirants died after the basement of the centre was flooded following rain in central Delhi, officials said on Sunday.

"It was around 7.10 pm, when we got a call from the area magistrate about the rescue operation. Though it was not a fire-related incident, we rushed five fire tenders on humanitarian grounds," DFS chief Atul Garg told PTI.

Garg further said that the major challenge was to pump out the water from the basement. "Our pumping machines can pump the water out... But due to heavy rain, the water level on the road and the basement was equal. When we started pumping out the water, it again gushed at the same location," Garg said.

With several students protesting near the Karol Bagh metro station over the deaths of three civil services aspirants after flooding at a UPSC coaching centre, DCP Central Harshvardhan said that the police had made repeated appeals to the protestors not to block the main road.

”We understand their sentiments. There are hospitals here. We are using a mild force to displace them,” news agency PTI quoted him as saying.

"The biggest responsibility of the incident lies with Rau IAS Study Circle as the incident took place there," a student, who did not wish to be named, said, PTI reported.

He said Delhi authorities showed "negligence" when there were similar incidents in Mukherjee Nagar and did not take any strict action even then.

He also highlighted last week's incident in Patel Nagar, where a civil services aspirant got electrocuted in a waterlogged street following heavy rain in the national capital.

The deaths of three civil services aspirants at a coaching institute have sparked outrage among students and demand for accountability from the Delhi government.

The storm drains built to carry away excess water due to heavy rains in the Old Rajendra Nagar area, where three civil services aspirants died after being trapped in the basement of a coaching institute, were covered by encroachers, a senior MCD official said on Sunday, PTI reported.

The drainage system in the area was heavily clogged with silt and overflowed leading to a flood-like situation due to the rains that lashed parts of Delhi on Saturday, locals complained.

Three civil services aspirants -- two females and a male -- lost their lives as they were trapped inside the library running in the basement of Rau's IAS Study Circle, which flooded due to rain and reportedly led to the failure of the single biometric entry and exit point.

A few students were detained after they staged a protest in Old Rajinder Nagar on Sunday, demanding action against those responsible for the deaths of three civil services aspirants at a coaching centre in the area, and compensation for their families.

Raising slogans "we want justice", the protestors blocked the road next to the Karol Bagh Metro Station, causing huge traffic snarls in the area and prompting police intervention.

A scuffle erupted between the students and police, after which a few protestors were detained and taken away in a bus. Following this, many demonstrators dispersed from the area and police resumed the traffic movement there.

The police also used body camera and drones to monitor protestors' activities during the demonstration. (PTI)

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has initiated action against coaching centres flouting norms in the city, following the incident that claimed three lives due to flooding in a coaching centre's basement.

MCD officials said a high-level committee will be established to investigate the incident and identify measures to prevent such tragedies in the future. 

Establishments running illegally from the basement have been identified and a drive to take action against them has started, an official said, PTI reported.

Another official said the MCD and the Delhi government are in talks and a high-level committee will soon be will set up to look into the incident in central Delhi's Old Rajinder Nagar area.

Read Full Story

The coaching centre at whose establishment three students died due to rain-induced flooding in the basement on Sunday condoled the loss of young lives and said they are fully committed to supporting the ongoing investigation.

"In light of the recent tragic event involving the students of Rajendra Nagar Rau's IAS Study Circle, Rau's IAS Study Circle extends its heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones of the deceased students, Tanya Soni, Nevin Dalvin, and Shreya Yadav. Our thoughts are profoundly with the families during this incredibly difficult time," read the statement.

"RAU's IAS Study Circle is fully committed to supporting the ongoing investigations into this tragic incident. We are cooperating fully with the relevant authorities and agencies to ensure that all necessary information is provided and that the investigation proceeds with the utmost diligence," read the statement.

"This tragedy has touched us all, and we recognise the profound impact it has had on their families, friends, and the broader community," it said.