MCD seal Vikas Divyakirti's Drishti IAS coaching center for conducting classes in basement | WATCH

New Delhi: The tragic deaths of three civil services aspirants at a popular coaching centre in Delhi have prompted a stringent crackdown on illegal constructions and encroachments in the city. The incident, which occurred at the Drishti IAS coaching centre in Mukherjee Nagar, has led to significant action by the authorities to address violations of building norms and encroachments.

On Saturday night, the basement of the Drishti IAS coaching centre, which was reportedly built in violation of regulations, became inundated, resulting in the deaths of three students. The victims have been identified as Shreya Yadav (25) from Ghaziabad, Tanya Soni (25) from Telangana, and Nevin Delvin (24) from Ernakulam, Kerala. The tragic incident has raised serious concerns about safety standards and regulatory compliance in commercial properties.

Delhi Police arrested the owner and coordinator of Rau's IAS Study Circle 

In response, Delhi Police have arrested the owner and the coordinator of the Rau's IAS Study Circle, charging them with culpable homicide. The charges come after investigations revealed that the coaching centre’s basement lacked a proper drainage system and safety measures, contributing to the fatal flooding.

Following the incident, authorities have taken decisive action. The Drishti IAS coaching centre's premises have been sealed, with new locks placed on the doors and a stamped notice posted at the entrance demanding contact with city officials. Five rooms within the centre have been sealed off, and it has been confirmed that the use of the basement for commercial activities was a violation of building norms.

दिल्ली : विकास दिव्यकीर्ति भी बेसमेंट में 300 स्टूडेंट्स का कोचिंग चला रहे थे। MCD ने आज ये कोचिंग सेंटर सील कर दिया है।

दिल्ली में कोचिंग के बेसमेंट में 3 UPSC स्टूडेंट्स की मौत के बाद विकास दिव्यकीर्ति की चुप्पी से बाकी स्टूडेंट्स बेहद नाराज हैं। pic.twitter.com/SCgqDSWODe

— Sachin Gupta (@SachinGuptaUP) July 29, 2024

Bulldozers deployed to remove enroachments blocking drains 

In addition, the civic authorities have launched a broader operation to tackle encroachments and illegal constructions across the city. Bulldozers have been deployed to remove encroachments blocking drains, which have been a significant factor in the waterlogging problems in the area.

The Rajinder Nagar coaching centre's library, which was also found to be in violation of regulations, was operating contrary to the civic body’s permit, which allowed its use solely for parking and storage. The civic body has initiated disciplinary proceedings against the executive engineer and assistant engineer of the Karol Bagh Zone, citing their failure to prevent the violations that led to the recent tragedy.

Coaching centres were sealed 

On Sunday, the basements of 13 coaching centres in Karol Bagh were sealed for violating building bye-laws. This action came amidst protests by students who voiced their concerns about the safety and legality of their educational institutions. Earth movers were used to clear encroachments over drains, following the outcry from students. The Delhi government’s recent guidelines on regulating coaching centres, issued in January, are now under scrutiny. Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan informed the Lok Sabha on Monday about these regulations, highlighting the ongoing efforts to enforce compliance.

BJP vs AAP intensified 

The student deaths have also intensified political debate, with the incident fueling a clash between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Both parties are engaged in a war of words over responsibility and the effectiveness of safety regulations in educational institutions.