Student Alerts on Illegal Basements Ignored Before Delhi Tragedy

Student’s Complaint on Illegal Basements

A month before the tragic flooding incident at Rau’s IAS Study Circle in Delhi, where three civil service aspirants lost their lives, student Kishor Singh Kushwah raised alarms. On June 26, Kushwah filed a complaint with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) via the Public Grievance Portal, highlighting illegal activities. He pointed out that several coaching centres in Old Rajinder Nagar and South Patel Nagar were operating classrooms and libraries in basements without proper permissions.

Kushwah explicitly mentioned the risks in his complaint, stating, “There is a possibility of a major accident.” Despite his warnings, no action was taken by the authorities. He filed additional complaints on July 15 and July 22, urging immediate action, but his concerns were overlooked.

MCD’s Inaction and Consequences

The tragic incident occurred during heavy rains when the basement of Rau’s IAS Study Circle flooded, leading to the death of three students. It was revealed that the coaching centre did not have the necessary No Objection Certificate (NOC) to operate a library in the basement. The MCD’s failure to enforce building norms and address the illegal use of basements came under severe criticism. This negligence exposed the students and staff to significant risks, ultimately leading to a preventable tragedy.

Post-Tragedy Actions and Accountability

In response to the incident, the MCD sealed 13 coaching centres in the Old Rajinder Nagar area found violating regulations. Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi stated that the civic body conducted inspections and shut down institutes involved in unauthorized commercial activities in basements. However, this action raised questions about the MCD’s earlier inaction, despite previous incidents like the Mukherjee Nagar fire, which prompted a survey of coaching centres for building rule violations. The Delhi High Court had also directed the MCD and the Delhi Development Authority to close down coaching centres violating fire safety norms in May.

The tragic loss of lives has sparked a debate on the accountability of the MCD and other regulatory bodies. Kishor Singh Kushwah’s warnings highlight a systemic failure to address safety concerns in educational establishments.

Aakhir Tak Editor-in-Chief

See Full Bio