Delhi UPSC Coaching Basement Flood: Rau’s IAS Karol Bagh Coordinator, Building Owner Detained | Latest Updates

The Delhi Police have detained the coordinator and owner of Rau’s IAS centre in Old Rajinder Nagar after basement flooding killed three students, including two women.

Search and rescue operation underway at the coaching institute in Old Rajender Nagar, after rainwater fills its basement, in New Delhi on Saturday. (Picture source: ANI)

New Delhi: The Delhi Police have detained the coordinator of Rau’s IAS centre and the owner of the building in Old Rajinder Nagar following the tragic flooding in the centre’s basement, which resulted in the deaths of three students, including two women. The arrested individuals have been identified as the owner, Abhishek Gupta, and the coordinator, Deshpal Singh. The detentions were made after a criminal case was filed post the completion of search and rescue operations early Sunday.

Here Are Latest Updates:

- Following the incident, Delhi LG said, "I am deeply anguished by the death of 3 Civil Services aspirants due to water logging in the basement of a coaching centre and that of another student due to water logging-related electrocution."

- The flooding at Rau’s IAS centre in Old Rajinder Nagar, which claimed the lives of three students, was caused by the bursting of a nearby drain, rapidly inundating the basement library area. According to reports by Zee News TV, the library had only a single exit equipped with biometric identification. The failure of this system during the incident prevented the trapped students from escaping.

- Atul Garg, Director of Delhi Fire Services, recounted the rescue efforts following the flooding at Rau’s IAS centre in Karol Bagh. "At around 7:10 pm yesterday, we received a call about heavy rain in the area and children trapped in a basement. When we arrived, the basement was full of water." He added that the team tried to pump out the water, but the water from the road water kept flowing in, prolonging the process.

- "Once the road water receded, we managed to reduce the basement water level from 12 feet to 8 feet and retrieved the students' bodies. The rescue operation is now complete, and all water has been pumped out. The reasons for water entering the basement and the operation of a class there are under inquiry," City's fire official told ANI.

- The three deceased have been identified as Navin Dalwin from Kerala, Shreya Yadav from Ambedkar Nagar in Uttar Pradesh, and Tanya Soni.

- According to Zee News TV, the basement, which had received clearance from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to function as a storage unit, was operating as a full-fledged library despite being allotted a No Objection Certificate (NOC) specifically for storage purposes.

- In response to the incident, several students have gathered outside the centre, protesting and demanding immediate action against those responsible.

- Mayor Shelly Oberoi has instructed the MCD Commissioner to take immediate action against all coaching centres operating commercially in basements across Delhi that violate building bye-laws. She has ordered an urgent inquiry to identify any MCD officers responsible for the recent tragedy, emphasising that any guilty officials should face the strongest possible penalties.

- Delhi Minister Atishi has called for a magisterial enquiry, requesting a report from the Chief Secretary within 24 hours.