What Went Wrong At Rau's IAS Centre? Delhi Probe Exposes Major Failures

Delhi Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar submitted an inquiry report to City Minister Atishi on Tuesday, addressing the deaths of three civil services aspirants at Rau's IAS Study Circle in Old Rajinder Nagar, Delhi.

The probe revealed several significant lapses by the coaching institute.

Photo Credit: PTI

What Went Wrong At Rau's IAS Centre?

Key Points from the Probe Report:

1. Drainage System Blocked: The report indicated that Rau's IAS Study Circle had completely blocked the drainage system and had failed to implement additional safeguards to manage such emergencies.

2. Parking Area Vulnerability: It was noted that the parking access to the institute was directly exposed to the road. During heavy rainfall, water from the road entered the parking area instead of being directed to the stormwater drain.

3. Lack of Security Vigilance: The report highlighted that there was no vigilance by the security staff, resulting in uninterrupted water flow from the parking area into the basement, which tragically led to the drowning deaths of the three students.

4. Road Design Issues: The chief secretary's report alleged that the road from Shankar Road to Pusa Road was shaped like a saucer, with the lowest point located in front of the coaching institute. During peak rainfall, water accumulates in this 200-foot stretch, and vehicle traffic causes water splashes that exacerbate the problem.

5. Water Accumulation: The report pointed out that the water accumulation in this area was exacerbated by the road's profile. Water that should have entered the stormwater drain was instead pushed towards the parking area.

6. Drainage System Obstructions: It was alleged that property owners had covered the existing drainage system with granite, marble, and kota stones, which obstructed the drainage openings and hindered cleaning efforts.

In response to the deaths of Shreya Yadav, Tanya Soni, and Nevin Dalwin, who drowned in the basement of the flooded coaching centre, the Centre has established a panel to investigate the incident. The committee will examine the causes, assign responsibility, propose preventive measures, and recommend policy changes, according to an MHA spokesperson on X.