In a tragic turn of events at the Rau’s IAS Coaching Centre, three students lost their lives as rainwater flooded into the basement library at Delhi’s Old during heavy douwnpour. Out of 30 students, 27 managed to escape and were successfully rescued, while three of them got trapped. 

 A major rescue operation was conducted by various agencies, including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Delhi Police and the fire department.  

However, following the event, an FIR has also been filed against the center causing death due to negligence. The Delhi Police arrested five more people, including the owner of the basement after the arrest of Rau’s CEO and the coaching coordinator on Sunday.   

The Rainwater accumulated on the road due to heavy rains. The basement door collapsed, and the students at the center described the situation as ‘horrific’ and beyond their imagination.  

Some students at the Rau’s Coaching Centre have also shared that the street had experienced waist-deep water a week prior to the incident occurred.  

UPSC Aspirants narrating their experiences

Rahul Pawar, a 29-year-old UPSC aspirant said, “The force of water was so heavy that the gate of the building fell down and water flowed into the basement area into the library.”  

While another student, Sashank Sharma, a 22-year-old student at the Rau’s Coaching expressed his vulnerability into the situation. He stated, “ The library is in the basement, so the water got inside it and students have been stuck there since evening.” 

Further, he also expressed his frustration to the center and said, “These institutes charge us Rs 2 lakh as fees and no safety measures are taken.” Meanwhile, his statements were collaborated by many other students at the centre for taking no safety measures for these intense situations.  

Furthermore, in an initial investigation, it has been reported that there were no safety measures adopted previously. The significant violations at the center include the proper drainage system and the illegal use of a basement for commercial activities. 

MCD seals 13 Coaching Centers in Delhi 

While, by Sunday night, the MCD has also initiated a major action and sealed the basements of 13 coaching centres and commercial establishments at Delhi’s Rajender Nagar. These institutions include IAS Gurukul, Chahal Academy, Plutus Academy, Sai Trading, IAS Setu, Topper’s Academy, Dainik Samvad, Civils Daily IAS, Career Power, 99 Notes, Vidya Guru, Guidance IAS, and Easy for IAS. 

As each of these centres were found breaching the rule against operating in basements, they were immediately sealed, and notices were posted on the premises. This action reflects a proactive approach carried out by the MCD, emphasizing compliance and raising safety precautions for the future.  

The sorrowful incident serves a grim reminder to the vulnerabilities and hazards which lead to these conflicts due to inadequate infrastructure management.