Kerala native among 3 dead in flooding at Delhi coaching centre basement

A Keralite civil service aspirant, Nivin Dalwin (28), an Ernakulam resident, has lost his life in the Delhi flooding incident that claimed three lives. The tragedy occurred when the basement of Rau's IAS study circle in central Delhi's Old Rajinder Nagar area was flooded due to heavy rain, trapping several students inside.

Three civil services aspirants, including Nivin who was a research student at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) died in the incident. The other two deceased were identified as Tania Soni (25) from Telangana and Shreya Yadav (25) from Uttar Pradesh. Their bodies were shifted to the mortuary of Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital. 

Students have staged protest demanding action against those responsible and to shut down illegal libraries in basements. 

The Delhi Police has registered a criminal case and asserted that it is determined to find out the truth in the tragic incident.

According to the Delhi Fire Department (DFS), a call about waterlogging was received from Rau's IAS Study Circle at around 7 pm on Saturday about the basement of the coaching institute being flooded.

"The caller told us that there was a possibility that some people were trapped. We are investigating how the entire basement was flooded.

Scenes from the basement of the Civil Service Training Center | Photo: ANI

It appeared that the basement got flooded very fast due to which some people were trapped inside," DCP (Central Delhi) M Harshavardhan told reporters.

A fire department official said that a total of five tenders were rushed to the site. The basement was full of water when they arrived.

Revenue Minister Atishi directed Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar to initiate an inquiry and submit a report within 24 hours on the incident.

"A magisterial inquiry has been ordered to investigate how this incident happened. Whoever is responsible for this incident will not be spared," Atishi posted on X.

Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva and New Delhi MP Bansuri Swaraj visited the site and blamed the AAP administration for the incident, saying the local MLA had ignored repeated appeals by locals to get the drains cleaned.

"Delhi Government's criminal negligence is responsible for this mishap. Jal Board Minister Atishi and local MLA Durgesh Pathak should take responsibility and resign," Sachdeva said.

Preliminary investigation suggests that the basement housed a library where several students were present. Water suddenly started flooding the basement. Ropes were used to evacuate the trapped students, the officials said.

The furniture in the coaching centre started floating when it was flooded and this created obstruction in the rescue operation, a police officer said.

Earlier this week, a 26-year-old civil services aspirant was electrocuted after he touched an iron gate that had electricity running through it following heavy rain in central Delhi's Patel Nagar area

BJP leader Manjinder Sirsa claimed that 18 people were still trapped but there was no official confirmation.