Last Updated on 29/07/2024 by Ankita Jain
The basement of RAU’s IAS coaching centre in Old Rajendra Nagar, Delhi suddenly got flooded on Saturday. Three students died in this accident. In this case, the police have arrested the owner and coordinator of the coaching centre. Many questions are being raised in the police investigation. The investigation started by the Delhi Municipal Corporation into the accident has revealed shocking information. The investigation has revealed that even after the show cause notice in August 2023, the coaching institute did not stop misusing the basement and the building.
At the same time, when the survey started on the orders of the court after the fire incident in Mukherjee Nagar last year, the MCD found that the owner of this coaching was violating the building rules up to the basement and the three upper floors. Therefore, the MCD had given a show cause notice to the coaching owner in August 2023, but despite this the misuse of the building did not stop. When this matter reached the DC of Karol Bagh zone, the owner managed to get the most important fire NOC on July 9 this year. But still did not stop misusing the basement to the three upper floors. Therefore, the basement was filled with water, in which three UPSC aspirants died.
Lee Fire on 9th July NOC: MCD
MCD has come to know that there was no free access in the coaching and the coaching was running without fire NOC, but after the court’s strictness, the coaching institute took NOC on 9 July this year. Also, the coaching used the storage for coaching/library. If the approval norms had been followed, this accident could have been avoided. Now MCD has started tightening the screws on such buildings present in the area.
‘Coaching centre and building owners encroached’
In its investigation, the Municipal Corporation found that the owners of coaching centres and other buildings situated along the road in Rajendra Nagar area have encroached upon the road. They have covered the storm drain by extending their buildings in the form of platforms and ramps. Due to which the drainage of water has become difficult and cleaning of drains has become impossible.
Now MCD will remove illegal encroachment on the respective storm water drain and other drains to solve the drainage problem. Strict action will be taken against those violating coaching centre rules and those running coaching centres in basements. The corporation has sealed three such basements in Rajendra Nagar on Saturday.
MCD investigation reveals violation of building bylaws
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is investigating the matter thoroughly to find out the cause of waterlogging in the basement. However, the MCD found in its investigation that the property owner had violated the building bylaws in terms of the use of the basement. The basement was allowed only for parking and storage. But the use of the basement as a library and reading hall was not allowed. However, stacking/stocking of books could be done.
As per the building bylaws and fire NOC, the use of the property is the responsibility of the property owners. The MCD is investigating the alleged incident of the drain bursting outside the coaching centre. After the incident at RAU’s coaching centre, the corporation has started strict action against properties violating building bylaws in 12 zones. The MCD has sealed 3 properties for such violations in Karol Bagh zone.
Police started investigation on these two theories
After the death of students due to water logging in the basement of RAU’s IAS coaching centre, the police have started investigation on two theories (Was coaching going on in the basement as well? Did the building have NOC from the fire department or not and how did the shed on the main gate break?).
After all, how did water enter the basement?
Sources say that after heavy rain, the gate of the coaching centre was closed. There was a steel shed on it so that water could not enter inside, but as soon as the rain water filled the road, the water pressure was so high that it broke three steel sheds and filled the basement. Due to water filling in the basement, the students present in the coaching centre got trapped inside.
The police is also investigating that the gate was opened to let a car out, after which water came in very fast. It is a matter of investigation that who finally closed and opened the gate?