MCD Seals 13 Illegal Coaching Centres in Delhi Following Tragic Basement Flooding

New Delhi: In a decisive move, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has sealed 13 illegal coaching centres in Old Rajinder Nagar after the tragic deaths of three civil service aspirants. The students—Tania Soni, Shreya Yadav, and Navin Delvin—lost their lives when water flooded the basement of Rau’s IAS Study Circle, where they were studying.

The action, which continued until late Sunday night, was prompted by the violation of regulations. Among the sealed institutions were prominent names like IAS Gurukul, Chahal Academy, and Topper’s Academy. According to MCD Mayor Shaili Oberoi, these centres were operating illegally in basements and were sealed on the spot with notices pasted.

The flooding incident, which occurred on Saturday evening, resulted in a seven-hour rescue operation for other trapped students. Tania, from Telangana, was pursuing her studies at Delhi University, while Shreya, from Uttar Pradesh, had a BSc in agriculture. Navin, hailing from Kerala, was a PhD student at Jawaharlal Nehru University.

Investigations revealed that Rau’s IAS Study Circle had obtained a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from the MCD in 2021 for parking and household storage use of the basement. Despite receiving a fire department NOC earlier this month, the centre violated building bye-laws regarding drainage and emergency exits.

The centre’s owner, Abhishek Gupta, and coordinator, Deshpal Singh, have been arrested and charged with culpable homicide and other offenses under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The community continues to grapple with the implications of this tragedy, which underscores the critical need for stringent adherence to safety regulations.