How students died and trapped in Rajender Nagar basement?

A tragic incident occurred in Old Rajender Nagar, Delhi, on Saturday evening when heavy rainfall caused severe flooding in the basement of a coaching institute, resulting in the death of three students and trapping others. The incident occurred at Rau's IAS Study Circle, a well-known coaching center for civil services aspirants.

Flooded basement trapped students; 3 died

The Delhi Fire Services received an emergency call at 7:19 pm, reporting students trapped in the flooded institute basement. Five fire engines were dispatched for rescue operations. Additional resources, including National Disaster Response Force NDRF teams, were deployed.

Delhi | The body of a student recovered in the basement of a coaching institute in Old Rajender Nagar which was filled with water: Delhi Fire Department https://t.co/409pEQj7t3

— ANI (@ANI) July 27, 2024

Eyewitnesses described a harrowing scene as the basement, which housed the institute's library and was a popular spot for self-study, rapidly filled with water. The water level rose to 10-12 feet within minutes, leaving students little time to escape. The sudden inundation was attributed to heavy rainfall and a possible drain burst.

As rescue efforts continued throughout the night, the bodies of two female students were recovered from the flooded basement. The first body was retrieved at 10:30 pm, followed by the second at 11:20 pm. The identities of the deceased have not been disclosed pending notification of their families. Search operations were still underway for a third person believed to be trapped in the basement.

The incident has raised questions about safety measures at educational institutions and the city's drainage infrastructure. According to the Meteorological Department's PUSA weather station, which is closest to Old Rajinder Nagar, the area received 31.5 mm of rainfall between 5:30 pm and 8:30 pm on Saturday. This overwhelmed the drainage system, causing waterlogging.

DCP (Central) M Harshavardhan said, "At 7pm, we received information that the basement of a USPC coaching institute in Rajender Nagar has been flooded with possibility of some people trapped. There was waterlogging on the road due to heavy rains this evening. It appears that the basement got flooded very fast and some people got trapped inside the basement. Delhi Fire Service and NDRF resued teams are present. Search and rescue operations are underway ... Till now, the body of two girl student has been recovered."

#WATCH | Delhi: On the Old Rajender Nagar incident, DCP Central M Harshavardhan says, "... The bodies have been sent to the hospital for further legal action. Rescue operations are still underway. The water is being pumped out. There is still about 7 feet of water in the… pic.twitter.com/37un19ApIJ

— ANI (@ANI) July 27, 2024

Due to poor visibility and a flooded basement, Delhi Police said divers and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are continuing their search. Fire Officer Atul Garg reported that five fire vehicles responded to the scene after receiving information around 7:15 PM. “We pumped the water out and recovered the bodies of two girls. Three children were initially feared trapped, and two have been recovered. We will recover the third as soon as the water recedes,” he said. “There were 30 students in the basement; three were trapped while the others escaped.”

A faculty member from the coaching institute revealed that initial efforts were made to evacuate the students during the flooding. A call to emergency number 112 was made, but traffic congestion caused delays in rescue team arrival. This revelation has sparked debates about the need for improved emergency response systems and better traffic management during crises.

Politicians blame each other for tragedy

The incident sparked a political controversy, with opposition parties criticizing the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for alleged negligence in maintaining the city's drainage system. BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj, representing New Delhi, visited the site and accused the local AAP MLA, Durgesh Pathak, of failing to address repeated requests to clean and desilt the drains in the area.

In response to these allegations, MLA Durgesh Pathak suggested that the flooding was caused by a drain bursting at a specific point, rather than a systemic failure of the drainage network. He emphasized that water accumulation was limited to the basement of this building and not widespread.

Old Rajender Nagar incident | Delhi Minister Atishi directs the Chief Secretary to initiate a magisterial inquiry and provide a report within 24 hours on the incident where students were trapped in the basement of a coaching institute due to heavy rain and flooding pic.twitter.com/3mgXnB3eW2

— ANI (@ANI) July 27, 2024

The tragic event prompted swift action from Delhi's government. Water Minister Atishi assured the public that those responsible would be held accountable. She announced that a magistrate has been ordered to investigate the flooding and submit a report within 24 hours. The minister directed the Chief Secretary to initiate a thorough inquiry.

This incident follows a recent tragedy in the area, where a UPSC aspirant died of electrocution in South Patel Nagar on July 22. These events have highlighted the urgent need for improved infrastructure and safety measures in areas frequented by students and young professionals.

As rescue operations continue, the focus remains on locating trapped individuals and supporting the families of the deceased. The incident has shocked the student community in Delhi, especially those preparing for competitive exams.

#WATCH | Old Rajender Nagar incident | Delhi: Fire Officer Atul Garg says, "... A total of 5 fire vehicles reached the sport after we received the information at around 7.15 pm... We pumped the water out and recovered the dead bodies of two girls. Around three children were… pic.twitter.com/p453wAD21L

— ANI (@ANI) July 27, 2024

Local authorities are pumping out water from the basement and surrounding areas to prevent further incidents. The Delhi Fire Department and NDRF teams are on site, using specialized equipment and trained personnel to navigate the challenging conditions.

The tragedy has sparked a broader conversation about urban planning, disaster preparedness, and the safety of educational institutions in the national capital. As investigations proceed, there are growing calls for stricter regulations and regular safety audits of buildings, especially those housing large numbers of students.