Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: Authorities have sealed the basement of Drishti IAS coaching centre in Mukherjee Nagar after a tragic incident that resulted in the deaths of three civil services aspirants. The basement, where five classes were being conducted, was allegedly built in violation of regulations.
The Delhi Police arrested the owner and coordinator of Rau’s IAS Study Circle, charging them with culpable homicide following the deaths of Shreya Yadav (25) from Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh; Tanya Soni (25) from Telangana; and Nevin Delvin (24) from Ernakulam, Kerala. The students died in the flooded basement on Saturday night.
Investigations revealed the basement lacked proper drainage and safety measures and was being used for commercial activities against legal norms. Consequently, civic authorities sealed off five rooms in the basement and placed a stamped paper across the entrance, requiring the office to contact city officials.
In response to the incident, bulldozers have been deployed in the area to remove encroachments blocking drains, which contributed to the waterlogging. The Rajinder Nagar coaching centre’s library, intended only for parking and storage, was also found to be in violation of regulations.
The civic body has initiated disciplinary actions against the executive and assistant engineers of the Karol Bagh Zone. On Sunday, the basements of 13 coaching centres in Karol Bagh were sealed for breaching building by-laws amid student protests. Earth movers were used to clear encroachments over drains, addressing the waterlogging issues raised by the students.
Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan informed the Lok Sabha on Monday about the guidelines issued in January this year for regulating coaching centres. The student deaths have also fueled a political confrontation between the BJP and AAP.
