After 3 deaths from drowning in Delhi, MCD seals basements of coaching centres

A day after three students died after drowning at a coaching centre, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) sealed the basements of coaching centres in Delhi’s Old Rajendar Nagar area — a hub of preparatory centres for the civil services exam.

The MCD on Sunday sealed basements of three institutions which were running illegally and further took action against seven other properties, according to ANI.

After the tragic incident in a coaching centre in Old Rajinder Nagar yesterday in which 3 students lost their lives after the flooding in the coaching institute basement, MCD has sealed 3 such basements in the area: MCD pic.twitter.com/hUHMF3lv27

— ANI (@ANI) July 28, 2024

Separately, the MCD said in a press release that even though the Rau’s IAS, the coaching institute where the three students died, had all the required documents, the basement was being run in violation of building bylaws.

The MCD further said that the basement was permitted for parking or storage purposes and not for being used as a library or a reading hall. It further said that the coaching centre was running in disregard of fire clearances.

On Saturday, the rainwater accumulated on the road outside the Rau’s IAS entered the basement of the building and flooded it. The Times of India reported that there were 30 students there at the time. The paper further said that while 27 either escaped or were rescued, three died after drowning.

8 coaching centres running in basement: MCD

In addition to sealing the basement of three coaching centres, the MCD has said that it has discovered that eight centres are running in basements.

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“We have identified 8 coaching centres that are in the basement and among them, we have sealed three of them…Compensation will be provided by the government. Action will be taken in the incident. A survey is being done…A magisterial inquiry has been ordered by the government,” said MCD Additional Commissioner Tariq Thomas, as per ANI.

Thomas further said, “We have been taking action since this evening. Three basements (coaching centres running in the basement) have been closed and we will take further action in the coming days. The government has ordered an inquiry.”