How did Delhi coaching centre's biometric gate trap students during flood?

New Delhi: In a tragic turn of events, three UPSC aspirants lost their lives after the basement of a coaching centre in Delhi's Old Rajinder Nagar flooded due to heavy rain. According to the police, the Delhi fire department received a call regarding waterlogging at the Rao IAS Study Centre around 7 pm after which they initiated a rescue operation. The police have registered a criminal case over three deaths of the students. 

How did it happen?

Students of the coaching centre claim that the water level rose to 10 feet within three minutes and the water was extremely murky. They also stated that the library in the basement had a biometric gate which trapped the students inside. The biometric system failed due to water pressure and power cuts that prevented students from escaping. However, the police say this is a matter of investigation.

What did the Delhi Mayor say?

Mayor Shelly Oberoi said, "It is sad that 3 children have died. I have written to the MCD Commissioner that strict action should be taken against all such coaching centres across Delhi which are under the jurisdiction of MCD and are running commercial activities in the basement which are violating the building bylaws and are not as per the norms."

We'll take action against those responsible: Delhi Mayor

Furthermore she said, "The completion certification of this building in Rajinder Nagar was given in 2021 and it is clearly written that the basement will be used only for parking and storage. We should not play the blame game and take action against those responsible."

Case registered against coaching institute's owner

Delhi Police arrested both the owner and coordinator of the IAS coaching centre on Sunday. The arrested coaching centre owner and coordinator have been identified as Abhishek Gupta and Deshpal Singh. M Harshavardhan, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Central, stated that a case has been registered against the coaching institute, the building's management and those accountable for maintaining the drain at the site. 

“Case registered under sections 105, 106 (1), 115 (2), 290 and 35 of BNS. This case is against the coaching institute and the management of the building and those who were responsible for the maintenance of the drain of that place...so far we have detained the owner and coordinator of that coaching centre...further investigation underway,” DCP Harshavardhan told ANI.

Who are the victims? 

The police identified victims of the tragic incident at Rao IAS Study Centre in Delhi's Old Rajender Nagar as three young aspirants, Shreya Yadav from Ambedkar Nagar district in Uttar Pradesh, Tanya Soni from Telangana and Nivin Dalwin from Ernakulam in Kerala.

MP demands accountability and safety measures

Rajya Sabha MP V Sivadasan of the CPI(M) expressed outrage over the incident and stated that they have investigated the site and spoken with the victims' families. This tragedy was preventable, Delhi's lack of adequate drainage infrastructure is an obtrusive issue. It appears that authorities are complicit, as they receive substantial bribes from coaching centre owners, perpetuating this dangerous situation.