Delhi Chief Secretary Orders Probe into Coaching Centre Flooding

The central district magistrate has been instructed to determine the cause of the flooding incident at a coaching centre and assign responsibility, Delhi Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar reported to Revenue Minister Atishi on Monday. Earlier, the minister had highlighted the delay in submitting the magisterial inquiry report on the Old Rajinder Nagar coaching centre incident and requested Kumar to submit it by 10 pm.

Three IAS aspirants—Shreya Yadav from Uttar Pradesh, Tanya Soni from Telangana, and Nevin Dalwin from Kerala—lost their lives after the basement of a building housing Raus IAS Study Circle coaching institute flooded following rain on Saturday evening. The chief secretary's report mentioned that the District Magistrate Central would provide a detailed report on the incident soon.

Immediate Actions Taken

The interim report was provided by the additional chief secretary. Since the road involved in the incident falls under the jurisdiction of the MCD, a report was also requested from the civic body. The MCD informed that the assistant engineer responsible for maintaining the drainage system in the area has been suspended immediately, and the services of a junior engineer have been terminated.

Desilting reports were sought from six organisations—Irrigation and Flood Control, PWD, MCD, NDMC, DDA, and Delhi Cantonment Board—and were already submitted to the Minister UD on June 6. The Urban Development department has written to all departments to conduct a third-party audit of desilting in compliance with High Court orders.

Minister's Concerns

Atishi had earlier stated, "I had given directions at 11:20 pm on Saturday 27th July regarding initiating a magisterial enquiry into the deaths of three IAS aspirants in Rajinder Nagar area... A report by the magisterial committee was to be submitted to the office of the undersigned within 24 hours." She expressed shock that despite nearly 40 hours passing, she had not received any official report or information from the Chief Secretary on the incident.

The minister suggested that either Delhi government officers are not serious about investigating this tragedy or they are trying to protect someone. She added, "The fact that the main accused runs an IAS coaching, one wonders whether he is well connected with the IAS fraternity. Such delays cannot be tolerated."

Further Directives

The Chief Secretary has been directed again to submit the magisterial enquiry report on the incident by 10 pm today, July 29. Atishi suggested taking strong action against officials whose negligence caused this tragic incident. She warned that any further delays would raise questions about whether any culprits are being protected.

The chief secretary's report also noted that desilting reports were sought from six organisations—Irrigation and Flood Control, PWD, MCD, NDMC, DDA, and Delhi Cantonment Board—and were already submitted to Minister UD on June 6. The Urban Development department has written to all departments to conduct a third-party audit of desilting in compliance with High Court orders.

The minister had flagged delays in submitting a magisterial inquiry report on Monday morning. She asked Kumar to submit it by 10 pm. The chief secretary's report stated that District Magistrate Central would provide a detailed report soon.

The interim report was provided by additional chief secretary but since the road concerned with the incident belongs to MCD, therefore a report was also sought from civic body. The MCD informed that assistant engineer responsible for maintenance of drains system of area has been suspended with immediate effect and services of junior engineer have been terminated.

The Urban Development department has already written to all departments to get third party audit of desilting done in compliance with orders of Hon'ble High Court.

Revenue Minister Atishi expressed her shock over not receiving any official report or information from Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar almost 40 hours after giving directions for a magisterial enquiry into deaths of three IAS aspirants in Rajinder Nagar area.