Published 07/29/2024 22:52 | Updated 07/29/2024 22:53
The drowning of three students in the basement of a test preparation institute in Delhi, where the Indian capital, New Delhi, is located, sparked outrage and protests last Sunday, the 28th. The students, all 20 years old, died the same night on Saturday, the 27th, after being trapped in the basement where they studied due to heavy rains. The police have arrested seven people, including the owner of the institute, who will be charged with negligence. Information from the BBC.
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According to reports, the bodies of the three victims – Shreya Yadav, Tanya Soni and Nivin Dalvin – were recovered by divers who searched the basement for several hours. Officials said the youngsters were studying at a national exam preparation institute called “Rau’s IAS Study Circle” which illegally operated a library and reading room in the basement of the building.
Officials said the training centre would only be allowed to use the basement for storage and parking. They also pointed out that drains in the area were clogged with silt, causing water to overflow.
Around 30 students and some staff were there at the time of the flood. Some students told the media that a gate at the entrance of the training centre collapsed, causing water to accumulate on the road. But other reports indicate that a nearby culvert broke due to heavy rains, resulting in the flood, BBC highlighted.
Witnesses said the basement filled with water quickly, giving people little time to escape. While some made it, others had to be rescued by authorities. It is unclear what caused the three victims to become trapped in the basement.
A student who identified himself as Rajan told the BBC that, a few days earlier, the doors to the basement library had been replaced with doors with a biometric system. “It seems that the flood caused the biometric system to fail and people were unable to get through,” he alleged. Representatives of the institute did not address the allegation. In a statement, Rau’s IAS Study Circle said it was “deeply saddened” by the deaths and said it was “fully cooperating” with the investigation, the BBC says.
Many of these test preparation institutes, which operate in cramped buildings in residential neighborhoods, are regularly accused of violating safety rules. Since Saturday, authorities in Delhi have shut down nearly a dozen coaching centers in the area for illegally holding classes in their basements.
The incident also triggered a political row between the Delhi government and federal authorities, with both sides accusing each other of negligence. According to the BBC, Delhi is a union territory – and the local government led by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) does not have full administrative powers. Hundreds of students protested in the area, accusing the administration of failing to perform its duty and ignoring complaints.
