Three IAS Aspirants Drown in Rajinder Nagar Flood: SUV Driver and Seven Others Arrested
New Delhi, 29th July 2024: In connection with the basement flooding incident in Delhi’s Rajinder Nagar, the driver of an SUV that drove past the coaching centre during the flood has been among those arrested. A viral video shows the Force Gurkha SUV driving past Rau’s IAS Study Circle, causing a surge of water towards the centre’s gate. The video captures voices exclaiming, “The gate has fallen.”
The tragedy occurred after heavy rainfall on Saturday evening led to flooding in the basement library of the coaching centre, where three IAS aspirants drowned. Approximately 20 students were trapped in the basement; while 17 were rescued, three succumbed to the flood.
Police have filed charges under culpable homicide not amounting to murder and negligence. Along with the SUV driver, seven individuals including the building and coaching center owners have been arrested.
Senior police officer M Harshvardhan indicated that the SUV driver’s arrest was based on the viral footage. The SUV was reportedly travelling at high speed, which contributed to the damage to the coaching centre’s gate.
“Evidence of negligence has been found with the arrested driver, who was involved in the Old Rajinder Nagar case. The high-speed driving caused the gate to break. A street vendor had attempted to intervene,” the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) stated.
Authorities noted that the SUV’s rapid movement exacerbated the flooding by sending a large volume of water towards the centre. The DCP mentioned that initially, the gate was intact, but it collapsed after the SUV passed by. The driver has no prior connection to the coaching centre or the building owner.
The arrest of the SUV driver has been questioned on social media, with some arguing that the gate, equipped with railings, would not have prevented the water surge.
The basement tragedy, which resulted in the deaths of Shreya Yadav, Tanya Soni, and Nevin Dalwin, has ignited significant protests. Both students and the Opposition have criticized the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which governs Delhi and its civic body.
In response to the criticism, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi has initiated action against coaching centres in Rajinder Nagar for violating building regulations. Thirteen centres have been sealed, and bulldozer operations have been carried out to clear encroachments that obstructed drains and led to waterlogging.
