Amid Protests, Another UPSC Aspirant Electrocuted at Delhi Coaching Centre

After three UPSC aspirants died in central Delhi’s Old Rajinder Nagar, another female student was reportedly electrocuted while using a biometric system to register her attendance amid waterlogging at a coaching center in Karol Bagh, a hotspot for civil service aspirants.

The injured student, Vani Awasthi, is receiving treatment at a private hospital in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh. Medical professionals at the hospital said Vani was first taken to RML Hospital in Delhi after the incident and then transferred to the UP hospital.

“She arrived by ambulance and was admitted to the ICU. Initially, her condition was critical, and she developed a phobia of her left leg and hand losing function. With counselling and medication, there has been improvement,” the doctor said.

Vani’s friend mentioned she was admitted to RML Hospital ICU for about two days before her family took her to their native place. “She’s recovering. The library where she was electrocuted has been shut down,” the friend said.

Amid ongoing protests over the deaths of three UPSC aspirants, this incident has added to the distress among students. The electrocution occurred at a waterlogged coaching center in Delhi following recent rains. Vani Awasthi was reportedly electrocuted while using a biometric machine to register her attendance.

#WATCH | Uttar Pradesh: A girl, Vani Awasthi is undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Bareilly after she suffered electrocution at a coaching centre in Delhi where she is a student. She suffered the electric shock when she was allegedly using a biometric machine to… pic.twitter.com/5lVzCnDbHn

— ANI (@ANI) August 2, 2024

Dr. Sudeep Saran, speaking to ANI, described the incident: “Vani was at a coaching center in Delhi, where the incident took place amid flooding. The day before, when she arrived for her classes and entered through the gate, there was waterlogging where a biometric machine was installed. She pressed her thumb for attendance and as soon as she touched the gate, she was electrocuted because of the current in the gate.”

“She fell unconscious and was rushed to Safdarjung Hospital, where she was admitted. She regained consciousness after a long time and was then brought here in an ambulance. She is admitted to the ICU here. Initially, her condition was very critical. She had developed a phobia, causing her left leg and hand to stop functioning,” Dr. Saran said.

An eyewitness, Shweta, confirmed that the biometric machine’s gates became earthed due to rain that fell one to two weeks prior. “It rained here 1-2 weeks back. It caused earthing in iron gates. The biometric machine was installed on an iron gate. She touched the gate to open it and suffered electrocution,” Shweta told ANI.

Shweta added, “After the incident, the owner removed the biometric equipment. A few days later, the coaching center’s basement library was also closed by the institute.”

#WATCH | Bareilly, UP | Dr Sudeep Saran says, "Vani was studying at a coaching centre in Delhi which suffered an incident due to flooding. One day before that, when she reached there for her coaching classes and entered through the gate, there was waterlogging where a biometric… pic.twitter.com/1PIy1TnKMi

— ANI (@ANI) August 2, 2024

Dr. Saran provided more details on Vani’s current condition, “Initially, her condition was critical. She developed a phobia, causing her left leg and hand to stop functioning. Counselling and medicines have led to improvements. She can speak properly but still gets alarmed. It will take time for her to be normal. We will have to assess if this incident has impacted her intelligence.”

The incident shows the dangers of inadequate safety measures at educational institutions, especially those with large student populations. The electrocution happened in a setting that should have been safe for learning but posed risks due to waterlogging and improper electrical equipment installation.

The coaching center has taken steps to address the safety issues. According to Shweta, the owner removed the biometric machine and shut down the basement library after two days. This move was likely in response to the incident and the growing concern for student safety.

Vani’s case has drawn attention to safety and infrastructure in coaching centers across Delhi, where thousands prepare for competitive exams. The incident has sparked a conversation about the need for stringent safety protocols and regular inspections to prevent such accidents.