Three Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) students lost their lives on Saturday after becoming trapped in a flooded basement at a coaching centre in Delhi’s Old Rajendra Nagar. The victims, who were studying at Rau’s IAS coaching institute, were identified as Shreya Yadav from Ambedkar Nagar, Uttar Pradesh; Tanya Soni from Telangana; and Nivin Dalwin from Ernakulam, Kerala.
Emergency responders, including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and local police, discovered the bodies several hours after the floodwaters engulfed the basement. The bodies have been moved to the Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital mortuary for further examination.
Incident Details
The Delhi Fire Department received reports of severe waterlogging at the Rao IAS Study Centre and the Karol Bagh area around 7 pm on Saturday. Initial efforts to pump out the floodwater were thwarted as rainwater continued to pour into the basement. Once the rain subsided, rescuers managed to lower the water level from 12 feet to 8 feet, retrieving the students’ bodies.
Out of approximately 30 students present, 12 to 14 were rescued and taken to a hospital, while others managed to escape the premises.
The Delhi Police have launched an inquiry to determine how the basement was flooded and why a class was being conducted there. They have detained the owner and coordinator of the coaching centre and filed a criminal case in connection with the students’ deaths.
City Response
Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi has instructed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) Commissioner to take stringent action against coaching centres operating commercial activities in basements, which violate building regulations. An immediate investigation will also be conducted to identify any MCD officials who may have been negligent, with severe penalties for any found guilty.
This tragedy underscores the urgent need for adherence to safety regulations and proper oversight to prevent such incidents in the future.
