Delhi students are furious, angry and saddened after three UPSC aspirants died following flooding in the basement of a coaching centre. The investigation so far has revealed multiple lapses on the part of the institute and the authorities which claimed three innocent lives.
KEY POINTS
- The death of three civil service aspirants in Delhi has raised several questions for the government and local authorities.
- Students have been protesting for two days for this reason with various demands.
- Times Now Digital reached out to some of these students and training centres to understand the ground reality.
New Delhi: With big dreams in their eyes and even bigger expectations on their shoulders, students from across the country arrive in the national capital, Delhi, to lay the foundation for cracking one of the toughest exams in the country, the UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) Civil Services Examinations. When they leave their homes and loved ones and move into an unfamiliar territory, they are prepared for “anything” except failure. But does that “everything” mean their lives? Certainly not, and definitely not their parents. The recent tragedy in Delhi, where three UPSC aspirants lost their lives, possibly due to negligence of coaching institutes, has come as a shock not just to the families of the victims, but to the entire nation and has raised several questions.
Tanya, Nevin and Shreya, from Telangana, Ambedkar Nagar and Ernakulum in Kerala respectively, were there to realise their dreams. The three students died after the basement of the Rau IAS Study Circle was flooded on Saturday following heavy intermittent rains that lashed the city in a 24-hour cycle. Though a rescue operation was launched after nearly three hours, authorities were unable to save them and their bodies were recovered after midnight.
The tragic incident has prompted students to take to the streets to protest against the problem of libraries, now called “death traps”, in the basements of several of those educational institutions.
A 24-page PDF is also being circulated among student groups which says that 65 institutes are required to obtain a “fire safety certificate” while a fire safety NOC is required in 39 centres.
Times Now Digital contacted some of these aspirants, who are also part of the protest group, to know their version of the accident, which could have been avoided if the authorities had taken preventive measures. The students also informed us about several demands they have filed with the authorities.
The big question here is: why have libraries been installed in basements and who gave them the proper permission?
Delhi and Basement Libraries
The tragedy has given rise to a bigger question: why were so many libraries built in the basements of buildings? Times Now Digital spoke to some UPSC aspirants who said that nearly 90 per cent of the libraries in the city are in the basements of buildings. Old Rajinder Nagar The area is in the basement. A student, who did not want to reveal his name and who recently cleared the preliminary exam, said that most of the libraries in Mukherjee Nagar area, another IAS coaching centre, are also located in basements.
Some public libraries in north Delhi’s Jawahar Nagar area are also in the basement and one of them was under a cafeteria, he added. A student, who asked not to be named, said the reason for this is the rent, which is the cheapest in the basement.
Basement libraries in North Delhi.
Photo: Times Now
A student who was an eyewitness to the incident and who participated in the test series at Old Rajinder Nagar said that he was present at the accident site from 10 pm and also saw the authorities shifting the bodies to an ambulance. He said that none of the relatives of the deceased were there. He said that RPF personnel were present outside the training building throughout the night and that Delhi Police officials were at the spot on Monday, adding that the entire area was sealed by the policemen.
What do students demand?
One of the students, who is also participating in the protest, said that they have submitted six demands to the agencies. The protest entered its second day on Monday as the students refused to leave the premises. They have demanded the closure of all libraries functioning in the basements of the buildings.
Below are the demands that students have raised:
- Revealing CCTV images in the public domain.
- Increase compensation to the families of the victims.
- Share the FIR report publicly.
- Inspection of all buildings in Old Rajinder Nagar.
- Close all basement libraries.
- Create a sustainable and adequate drainage system.
Rau IAS Academy student on SoP for libraries
Times Now Digital also spoke to one of the students of the Rau IAS academy, where the incident took place. The student, who did not want to reveal his name, said that the institute maintained emergency exits and other safety measures. He said that the safety measures adopted by the coaching centre were among the “best in the area”, however, they could not prevent the deaths of the three aspirants, he added.
He also said that almost all libraries are in basements because “the rent is low.” He pointed out that neither the institute, nor the government nor the officials have the guidelines or standard operating procedures that need to be followed while opening a library, adding that the Delhi High Court had also highlighted the same.
“…Even the MCD has no idea about the SoPs, like what the standards are… and there is no law, so everyone does what they think is right,” he added.
He said that normally the library is occupied by 30 to 40 students, mostly those preparing for the main exam. This year’s UPSC main exam is scheduled to be held in September.
The Delhi High Court had asked for action to be taken on basement study centres
Last year, the Delhi High Court had sought response from the Delhi government and the MCD to a petition seeking action against the estates that had reading rooms, libraries and self-study centres in basements without an approved layout plan. The PIL said that at one point of time, there were over 80 students studying on their own in these centres.
He also named areas where these centres were operated including Karol Bagh, Old Rajinder Nagar, New Rajinder Nagar, West Patel Nagar, South Patel Nagar and Ranjit Nagar.
Patel Nagar is the same area where a UPSC aspirant was recently electrocuted and his body was found stuck to an iron gate.
In May this year, the High Court had expressed displeasure over the MCD’s failure to ensure strict compliance with its directions regarding coaching centres operating in violation of relevant laws. The court was hearing a number of issues related to the functioning of coaching centres in Mukherjee Nagar, including an ex-officio petition filed by it in 2023. The court had taken cognizance of the case after a fire at a coaching centre in a four-storey building in Mukherjee Nagar led to mass chaos.
In its April order, the HC had formed an independent inspection team which was given the responsibility of inspecting the area and submitting a report on the total number of coaching centres in operation and how many were compliant with the Unified Building By-Laws (UBBL), 2016, and the Master Plan of Delhi (MPD), 2021.
What Rau Coaching Centre said about the topic
A day after chaos engulfed the national capital, Rau’s IAS coaching centre on Sunday issued a statement expressing “its deepest condolences” and pledging to “fully cooperate in the ongoing investigation”.
“In light of the recent tragic incident affecting the students of Rajendra Nagar Rau IAS Study Circle, Rau IAS Study Circle extends its sincere condolences to the families and loved ones of the deceased students, Ms. Tanya Soni, Mr. Nivin Dalwin and Ms. Shreya Yadav. Our thoughts are deeply with the families during this incredibly difficult time,” the institute said in its first official statement.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of these promising young men who were preparing to serve our nation with dedication and commitment. This tragedy has touched us all and we recognise the profound impact it has had on their families, friends and the wider community. The RAU IAS Study Circle is fully committed to supporting the ongoing investigations into this tragic incident,” he added.
FIR speaks of failures and says basement was intended for storage
However, the Delhi Police mentioned in its preliminary report certain lapses of the institute which, if addressed in time, could have saved the lives of three innocent people. The police said that Rau IAS Training The owner did not submit or show any papers or documents proving that he had permission to operate a library in the basement.
The drainage system had not been cleaned or maintained and that is the reason why rainwater accumulated on the street and then seeped into the basement, the FIR stated. Police added that there was no drainage system in the basement, it added.
“The building has a fire-safe certificate, but the fire-safe certificate stated that the basement would be used as a storeroom. The institute management was using the same room as a classroom or library, which is a violation of the fire-safe certificate,” Delhi Fire Service chief Atul Garg told PTI.
The basement was used as a library even though there was no such permit. The area was only authorised for use as a storage room.
What coaching institutes said two days after the tragedy
Times Now Digital contacted several coaching centres located in the Old Rajinder Nagar, Karol Bagh and Mukherjee Nagar area. While two of them declined to comment, one institute, again on condition of anonymity, said that they have closed the centre after this mishap and added that there are several establishments in the area that have libraries in their basements.
However, the institute was quick to clarify that it does not have a library in the basement.
Another school, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of a possible drop in student numbers, said the school had been closed, like many others, as a precaution. He added that they too support the students and that what had happened was “regrettable.”
Asked if they would take any action following the incident, one institute said there is no such proposal under discussion and the MCD is already sealing the basements from where the institutes’ libraries were functioning.
Meanwhile, the issue of the students’ deaths was raised in both the Houses of Parliament on Monday. The Delhi Police has also sent a notice to the MCD seeking information on the investigation into a case registered in connection with the case. A total of seven people have been arrested in the matter and the civic body has launched a drive to identify illegal libraries functioning from basements in Delhi.
