Three students dead in basement flooding at Delhi IAS coaching centre

Heavy rains in Delhi on Saturday led to a devastating incident at Rau's IAS Study Circle in Old Rajinder Nagar, resulting in the deaths of three civil service aspirants. The victims, Tania Soni (25), Shreya Yadav (25), and Nevin Dalwin (28), were trapped in the basement of the coaching center when it flooded.

Authorities quickly launched a criminal investigation, detaining two individuals and initiating a magisterial inquiry. Senior police officer M Harshavardhan emphasized the commitment to a thorough investigation: "We have registered a criminal case and our forensic teams are collecting evidence. We are determined to uncover the truth."

The Delhi Fire Department received a distress call about the flooding at approximately 7 pm. "The caller informed us that some individuals might be trapped. The basement appeared to have flooded rapidly," explained DCP Harshavardhan. Rescue teams from the Delhi Police, fire officials, and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) conducted a search operation, ultimately recovering the bodies of the three students.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the basement, which housed a library, was filled with students at the time of the flooding. Rescue efforts were hampered by floating furniture and the swift influx of water. Ropes were used to evacuate the remaining students.

In the aftermath, students protested the incident, accusing authorities of negligence. The protests continued into Sunday, with students demanding accountability and immediate action.

Delhi Minister Atishi has directed Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar to submit a report within 24 hours. "A magisterial inquiry has been ordered. Those responsible will be held accountable," Atishi stated on social media.

Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva and New Delhi MP Bansuri Swaraj visited the site, criticizing the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) administration. They accused local MLA Durgesh Pathak of ignoring repeated requests to clean the drains, which they believe contributed to the flooding.