Following a recent mishap in Old Rajendra Nagar where three UPSC aspirants died due to basement flooding at Raus IAS coaching institute, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has taken action by sealing the basements of 13 civil services institutes.The crackdown has been launched by the corporation against the properties that are in violation of building ordinances, following the terrifying event that took place on Saturday night and led to widespread demonstrations by students in the Old Rajendra Nagar area.A team of MCD thoroughly conducted a survey of the area on Sunday and sealed institutes that were running for commercial activities.Additional Commissioner MCD Tariq Thomas stated, We have been working on this since the evening. We have shuttered three basements, which are coaching centres. In the days ahead, well take more measures. A federal investigation has been mandated.Heres what the Delhi Mayor saidShelly Oberoi, taking it to her X handle said that action on the coaching centers that violated rules has been started. If necessary, this campaign will be run all over Delhi!कल की दुखद घटना के बाद राजिंदर नगर में जितने भी कोचिंग सेंटर जो बेसमेंट में rule violation कर रहे थे उनपर MCD ने सीलिंग की प्रक्रिया शुरु कर दी है!ज़रूरत पड़ने पर पूरी दिल्ली में इस मुहिम को चलाया जायेगा! pic.twitter.com/R2bxW3SMU3— Dr. Shelly Oberoi (@OberoiShelly) July 28, 2024Who will be held responsibleHeres what the students say:While speaking to ANI, one of the students said, Entry and exits of most of the buildings here are controlled by biometrics. In case of an emergency or unforeseen incident, there is no balcony in the entire building, and there is no way to rescue any occupants of a building in case of a fire. We will not be able to escape and no one will be able to enter the building without a biometric... Who will be held accountable for our life and safety... Access to 70-75% of libraries in the region is controlled by biometrics and the libraries are located in basements...#WATCH | Delhi | Old Rajinder Nagar Incident | On biometric access to accommodations and libraries in the area, Punit Singh, a student, says, Entry and exits of most of the buildings here are controlled by biometrics. In case of an emergency or unforeseen incident, there is no… pic.twitter.com/sCxMxs1Yyj— ANI (@ANI) July 29, 2024Another student said, ... What happened on 27 July was that the biometric got blocked, because of which students got trapped inside when the basement was being flooded with water. This tragedy could have been averted... Alternatives of biometrics need to be ensured so that another such tragedy can be averted...#WATCH | Delhi | Old Rajinder Nagar Incident | On biometric access to accommodations and libraries in the area, Manish Kumar, a student, says, ... What happened on 27 July was that the biometric got blocked, because of which students got trapped inside when the basement was… pic.twitter.com/ki72PhHFJK— ANI (@ANI) July 29, 2024According to the MCD statement, the coaching centre where the incident occurred was operating against the requirements of a fire clearance, and the basement was permitted for parking and storage but not as a library or reading hall.Massive protest by studentsFollowing the mishap, several students from the area 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.Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition has also express condolences to all the bereaved families and called the tragic incident, A collapse of infrastructure is a combined failure of the system.
