'Unfortunate, Unacceptable': Delhi LG Expresses Anguish As Coaching Basement Flooding Kills 3, Seeks Report

Saxena has sought a report from the Divisional Commissioner, to be submitted on Tuesday, covering every aspect of the incident. 

Three students were killed after they drowned in the basement of the coaching centre after it was filled with floodwater.

Source : PTI

Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena on Sunday expressed anguish over the loss of lives of three civil services aspirants who drowned in the basement of their coaching centre. The incident happened on Saturday night when the floodwaters inundated Rau's IAS Study Circle basement in Old Rajinder Nagar which was being used to run a library.

"I am deeply anguished by the death of 3 Civil Services aspirants due to water logging in the basement of a coaching centre," said the LG in a post on X. He also expressed grief over the death of a 26-year-old UPSC aspirant who died from electrocution on a waterlogged lane in Central Delhi's Patel Nagar. 

"That this should happen in the Capital of India is most unfortunate & unacceptable," he added.

The LG said that he has been keeping a "close watch" over the situation and followed the rescue operations by the Delhi police and Delhi Fire personnel. 

I am deeply anguished by the death 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.

— LG Delhi (@LtGovDelhi) July 28, 2024

"These incidents point towards criminal neglect & failure of basic maintenance & administration by concerned agencies & departments," he added. 

Saxena pointed out that the drainage in the city and related infrastructure have collapsed. "It is indicative of the larger malaise of misgovernance that Delhi has been subjected to during the last decade or so," he said, 

The Delhi LG also said to look into the role of coaching institutions and landlords for not ensuring basic safety of students "who pay hefty fees and rents, away from their homes." 

Saxena has sought a report from the Divisional Commissioner, to be submitted on Tuesday, covering every aspect of the incident, said the LG in the post. 

The owner and coordinator of the coaching institue have been detained by the police who have opened a case into the incident and the investigations are underway.