Delhi Police have arrested five additional individuals in connection with the deaths of three civil service aspirants who drowned in the flooded basement of a coaching centre in Rajinder Nagar, bringing the total number of arrests to seven.
Recent Arrests and Charges:
- The latest arrests include four relatives of the building owner, Amarjeet, and the owner of a Force Gurkha car, whose vehicle is believed to have caused significant water damage to the coaching centre’s gate. A viral video shows the SUV driving through the waterlogged street, leading to a large wave of water crashing into the institute’s gate, which then allowed water to flood the basement.
- Earlier, the owner and coordinator of Rau’s IAS Study Circle were arrested on Sunday. They were charged with culpable homicide, negligence, and other related charges, and have been sent to judicial custody.
Ongoing Investigations:
- Police are scrutinizing the building’s structure and the role of the local municipality in managing the area’s drainage system. The Delhi Fire Service is inspecting the building and its basement, which was illegally used as a library.
- Municipal officials responsible for maintaining the drainage system have been named in the FIR. Police will question them and issue notices seeking information.
Bulldozer Action and Encroachment Removal:
- Following prior approval from Delhi Police, bulldozer action has commenced to remove encroachments near Rau’s IAS Study Centre.
Official Statements and Public Response:
- Deputy Commissioner of Police M. Harshavardhan stated, “Whoever is at fault in this incident will not be spared. We are taking strict action against those responsible and maintaining law and order in the area.”
- Amid growing public anger and protests demanding justice for the victims, security has been tightened in Old Rajendra Nagar. Paramilitary forces and police have been deployed to maintain order.
Government Actions and Safety Violations:
- The Delhi government announced that a civic body team visited the central Delhi coaching hub to take action against institutes operating from basements. Thirteen coaching centres were sealed during this action.
- An MCD official highlighted “gross criminal negligence” on the part of the institute owner, citing the absence of a proper drainage system, safety violations, and illegal basement operations as the causes of the tragedy.
The Incident:
- More than 35 individuals, including students and staff, were trapped on Saturday evening when heavy rains led to water flooding the coaching centre’s basement. Tragically, three students—Shreya Yadav from UP, Tanya Soni from Telangana, and Navin Dalwin from Kerala—lost their lives.
Delhi Police have registered an FIR and formed multiple teams to investigate the incident, and the Delhi government has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the tragedy.
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