Three UPSC Aspirants Die In Flooded Basement Of Delhi Coaching Centre

New Delhi — Three UPSC aspirants lost their lives after being trapped in the basement of a coaching centre in Central Delhi’s Old Rajinder Nagar, following a burst drain during heavy rainfall.

The tragic incident occurred just days after another UPSC aspirant was electrocuted on a waterlogged street in Delhi.

At around 7 pm on Saturday, the Delhi Fire Services (DFS) received a distress call about flooding in the basement of Rau’s IAS Study Circle. Five fire tenders were immediately dispatched for rescue operations.

Divers from the National Disaster Response Force were also deployed, although a faculty member suggested that deploying divers should have been the priority.

Officials reported that the bodies of two female students were recovered, the first at 10:30 pm and the second at 11:20 pm. The search for a third person believed to be trapped continues.

Witnesses stated that the basement housed the coaching centre’s library, a popular spot for students to study. The basement reportedly filled with 10-12 feet of water in a short span, leaving no time for escape. The Met department’s PUSA weather station, the nearest to Old Rajinder Nagar, recorded 31.5 mm of rain between 5:30 pm and 8:30 pm.

The incident has sparked political tensions, with the opposition BJP blaming the AAP-run Public Works Department (PWD) and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi for inadequate waterlogging and drain maintenance.

PWD Minister Atishi has directed the Chief Secretary to submit a report on the incident within 24 hours. “Strongest possible action needs to be taken against those whose negligence caused this tragedy. Whoever is found guilty should not be spared and must be held accountable immediately,” she stated.

Rajinder Nagar is renowned as a hub for coaching centres and student accommodations, attracting aspirants from across the country aiming to crack competitive exams.

This incident follows another tragic event in June last year, when more than 60 people were injured in a fire at a coaching centre in Mukherjee Nagar, another coaching hub.