Delhi Tragedy: Flood at Coaching Centre Claims Lives of Civil Services Aspirants

Two civil services aspirants lost their lives, and another remains missing after the basement of a coaching centre in Old Rajinder Nagar, central Delhi, flooded due to heavy rain on Saturday evening. Officials reported that the incident occurred at around 7 pm.

According to the Delhi Fire Department (DFS), they received a call about waterlogging from the Raus IAS Study Circle at approximately 7 pm. "We received a call at 7 pm regarding a basement of a coaching institute being flooded. The caller told us that there was a possibility that some people were trapped," said an official.

Rescue Operations and Investigation

A fire department official mentioned that five tenders were dispatched to the location. Upon arrival, they found the basement completely submerged in water. The bodies of two female students were recovered during the rescue operation conducted by the NDRF, local police, and fire department.

However, one student is still unaccounted for, and rescue efforts are ongoing. DCP Central Delhi M Harshavardhan stated, "We are investigating how the entire basement was flooded. It appeared that the basement got flooded very fast due to which some people were trapped inside."

Government Response and Accountability

Revenue Minister Atishi instructed Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar to launch an inquiry and provide a report within 24 hours regarding the incident. "A magisterial inquiry has been ordered to investigate how this incident happened. Whoever is responsible for this incident will not be spared," Atishi posted on X.

Preliminary findings indicate that the basement contained a library where several students were present when water began flooding in suddenly. Officials used ropes to evacuate those trapped inside.

Political Reactions

Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva and New Delhi MP Bansuri Swaraj visited the site and criticised the AAP administration for the incident. They claimed that the local MLA had ignored repeated requests from residents to clean the drains, which could have prevented such flooding.

The investigation continues as authorities work to determine how such rapid flooding occurred and ensure accountability for those responsible.