Students slam MCD, says`not a disaster but negligence' after coaching centre tragedy claims 3 lives

Delhi: Students took to the streets in protest after three civil services aspirants lost their lives in a flooded coaching centre basement in central Delhi's Old Rajinder Nagar area. The protesters demanded action against those responsible and shut down illegal libraries in basements. 

"We demand that firstly, all these libraries in basements which are there illegally, need to be shut down. MCD (Municipal Corporation of Delhi) should see where the issue is. This is not the first time the water has been logged here. Last time when it rained, cars were floating (in water). In one year, they haven't done anything... no senior official has visited this place till now..." said Aman Shukla, a UPSC aspirant.

Delhi BJP President Virendraa Sachdeva lashed out at the government and alleged that, "what has happened there is not a tragedy but murder. How was the library functioning in the basement? What happened to an investigation that was set up earlier? These students are the future of the country... Delhi Minister doesn't have the courage to go there (at the incident site). You people (Delhi govt) are involved in this corruption. The people were continuously asking for the drainage to be cleaned, what were you doing? The AAP govt has destroyed entire Delhi. What are their (students) faults, that they came to Delhi to study? You people should be ashamed."

Criticising the authorities' a student said, "MCD says it is a disaster but I would say that this is complete negligence. Knee-deep water gets logged in half an hour of rain. Disaster is something that happens sometimes. My landlord said that he had been asking the councillor for the last 10-12 days that the drain must be cleaned. This is also a failure of the councillor."

He further questioned the authorities as to why the 300 personnels including police that have been deployed now were not assigned during the start of monsoon. 

The protesters demand action against the culprits and an accurate count of injuries and deaths. "The first demand is that action should be taken against the culprits. Immediate demand is that the actual number of injuries and deaths should be told... People of disaster management told me that 8-10 people have died..." said the student.

Another student expressed frustration at the lack of accountability, saying, "There is no one to take the responsibility. We want someone from the government to come here and take responsibility for all the students who have lost their lives. How are they improving anyone's future by making a tweet or writing a letter from their AC rooms? When they have to ask for votes they come home when such a tragic incident happens they write a letter. How is this justified?"

The Delhi Police have registered a case and are investigating the incident which occurred on Saturday evening when the basement of Rau's IAS Study Circle was flooded due to heavy rain. According to officials, a call about waterlogging was received at around 7 pm, and rescue operations were initiated immediately. However, the rapid flooding of the basement caught everyone off guard, and three students lost their lives.