Delhi coaching centre tragedy: Students hold candle march, demand justice

New Delhi [India], July 28 (ANI): Students held a massive protest in the national capital on Sunday demanding justice for the three UPSC aspirants who lost their lives due to flooding in the basement of the IAS Coaching Centre in old Rajendra Nagar.

The harrowing incident that took place on Saturday evening has raised concern among the students, who are demanding action against the authorities for showing negligence.

The victims who died in the incident were identified as Shreya Yadav, a native of Ambedkar Nagar district of Uttar Pradesh, Tanya Soni from Telangana; and Nivin Dalwin, a resident of Kerala's Ernakulam.

Speaking to ANI, Aman Kumar Yadav, an IAS aspirant, said that "Students who are protesting here want the authorities to reveal the actual casualties that took place in the incident. The family of the deceased must get immediate compensation."

He also said that the authority is trying to conceal the real number of casualties in the case.

Aman further said that "Students who are protesting want accountability and severe punishment for all coaching institutes and land owners who have libraries or residential complexes in their basements."

"Such incidents create a lot of distress among the students, who are already working hard to crack the exam," said Aman, who was present at the protest site.

"Through this protest, we want to raise our demand that there should be maintenance of wires and electric metres and strict action must be taken against the flat owners, who charge hefty rent for basement rooms that don't have good wiring with cracks in the building," Aman Yadav said.

Meanwhile, students also blocked the carriageway leading to Pusa Road near Karol Bagh Metro Station, which is an arterial road with many hospitals in the vicinity.

Delhi Police said that students were repeatedly requested to not block the main road by DCP Central as well as DM Central.

"Since they refused to clear the main road even after an hour, they were removed from there, considering the massive public inconvenience and nearby hospitals," police added.

Meanwhile, many political leaders expressed their grief and also questioned the authorities for the deaths of the UPSC aspirants.

Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena expressed anguish over the deaths and said the incident was "unfortunate and unacceptable."

"I am deeply anguished by the deaths 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. That this should happen in the capital of India is most unfortunate & unacceptable," Delhi LG said in a post on X.

AAP MP Swati Maliwal also expressed her outrage, saying, "The students are very sad and angry. It has been more than 12 hours, and till now neither any minister of the Delhi government nor the mayor of MCD nor any officer has come. I believe that these deaths are not a disaster. This is murder. An FIR should be registered against all these big government officials."

Delhi BJP Chief Virendraa Sachdeva also called for an inquiry into the Old Rajender Nagar incident.

"There should be an inquiry into the corruption of Arvind Kejriwal, Atishi and their government. Delhi Municipal Corporation's corruption should be inquired. There should be an inquiry as to why the drainage was not cleaned. Will they order an inquiry into this?" Sachdeva said.

BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj also expressed her views, saying, "These children came here to create their future. But the government of CM Arvind Kejriwal and MLA Durgesh Pathak did not listen to any requests of the local people. People had been asking Durgesh Pathak for the last one week to get the drainage systems cleaned. There are still 2.5 feet of waterlogged on the street. Arvind Kejriwal and Durgesh Pathak are responsible for the deaths."

On Sunday, the Delhi Police arrested both the owner and coordinator of the coaching centre. They were taken to the court from Rajender Nagar Police Station. (ANI)