Day After 3 UPSC Aspirants Die, MCD Seals 13 “Illegal” Coaching Centres (image-X/UPSC_Notes)
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) sealed the basements of 13 “illegal” civil services institutes in Old Rajinder Nagar on Sunday, following the tragic deaths of three UPSC aspirants after a library housed in the basement of a coaching centre flooded with rainwater.
The Delhi government said that a team of MCD officials arrived in Old Rajinder Nagar to seal the illegally run basements of coaching centres flouting safety norms. The move comes after student protests erupted in the area on Saturday night and Sunday.
On Saturday evening, nearly 35 people, including students and staff members, were trapped in the basement as rainwater flooded the basement. While others managed to escape, three students – Tania Soni (25), Navin Delvin (28), and Shreya Yadav (25) – were killed after rainwater suddenly flooded the library in the basement of Rau’s IAS Study Circle.
The 13 “illegal” coaching centres that were sealed include Dainik Samvad, Career Power, IAS Gurukul, Easy for IAS, Civils Daily IAS, Chahal Academy, Sai Trading, Vidya Guru, Plutus Academy, 99 Notes, IAS Setu, Guidance IAS, and Topper’s Academy. The institutes were found to be operating in basements, violating building bylaws, and were sealed on the spot, said MCD Mayor Shaili Oberoi.
The owner Abhishek Gupta and coordinator Deshpal Singh of Rau’s IAS Study Circle have been arrested and charged with culpable homicide.
An initial probe into the matter found that the incident occurred due to the absence of a drainage system and safety measures. As per the FIR, Gupta admitted that there was no drainage system in the basement.
The institution had its building plan approved by the MCD in 2021, wherein it was specified that the basement was suitable only for parking and storage purposes, as per PTI.
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Congress MP Dr. Amar Singh moved an adjournment motion in Lok Sabha “demanding accountability” for the three students.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, in an X post, stated that common people are “paying the price of unsafe construction, poor town planning, and irresponsibility of institutions at every level by losing his life.”
The BJP demanded the resignation of water minister Atishi and local AAP MLA Durgesh Pathak. The AAP demanded a crackdown on illegal commercial operations in basements in Delhi.
