A tragic incident unfolded in West Delhi on Saturday evening, resulting in the death of three students after a basement at a popular coaching centre became inundated with water. The incident occurred at Rau’s IAS Study Circle in Rajendra Nagar, which was severely flooded following heavy rains.
According to police reports, the fire brigade received an emergency call at approximately 7:19 PM about students trapped in the basement. Despite the rapid response of five fire engines, rescue operations were hampered by the extensive flooding. The bodies of two female students were retrieved several hours into the rescue effort, while the body of a male student was recovered later in the night.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central Delhi) M. Harshavardhan confirmed that the bodies have been sent to the hospital for further legal procedures. He urged the student community to stay away from the site to avoid obstructing rescue operations. “The water level is still about 7 feet in the basement. We are continuing the rescue operations and pumping out the water,” Harshavardhan said.
Delhi Fire Chief Atul Garg stated that rescue operations are ongoing to ensure no one else is trapped. Initial reports suggested that while three students were trapped, around 30 others managed to escape the flooding.
The incident occurred just days after a UPSC aspirant was electrocuted while navigating a waterlogged street in Patel Nagar, also in West Delhi. In response to the flood tragedy, Delhi Public Works Department Minister Atishi and local AAP MLA Durgesh Pathak, along with Mayor Shelly Oberoi, visited the site. Atishi has called for a magisterial inquiry and requested a report within 24 hours, emphasizing that those responsible will face consequences.
The tragedy has prompted a political outcry, with BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj criticizing the AAP government for failing to maintain sewers and prevent the flooding. Swaraj alleged that if the sewers had been properly cleaned and maintained, the disaster could have been averted.
In response, MLA Durgesh Pathak suggested that an exploded sewer might have caused the flooding. He also criticized the BJP for not addressing the issue during their tenure in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. “This is not the time for politics. The focus now is on saving lives and addressing the immediate crisis,” Pathak said.
Sources By Agencies