Coaching Centre Tragedy: Ramps constructed over drains blocked water flow: Inquiry report

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 30
The owners of commercial establishments in the Rajinder Nagar area have constructed elevated ramps over the stormwater drains thus blocking the passage of water. This was revealed in the initial report filed by the District Magistrate, after a magisterial inquiry was directed by Delhi Revenue Minister Atishi to Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar. The inquiry was marked to find out the reasons that lead to the death of three IAS aspirants who lost their lives as result of the laxity of the property owners as water flooded the basement of a coaching centre, the Rau’s IAS Study Circle, two days back.

HC to hear PIL today
A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Delhi High Court, calling for the formation of a high-level committee to investigate the death of the three civil services aspirants. The PIL, brought before the court by Advocate Rudra Vikram Singh, seeks the establishment of a district-level committee in each area of the national capital to investigate illegal commercial constructions.
The division Bench, which included Acting Chief Justice and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, directed that the matter be listed for Wednesday provided the petition is in order by 12.30 pm on Tuesday. The PIL also seeks directives for the authorities to submit an action-taken report based on previous directions related to a fire incident at a coaching centre in Mukherjee Nagar. Additionally, the plea calls for a committee to probe coaching institutes operating illegally and not adhering to the standard norms.

Students start indefinite hunger strike

• The civil services aspirants, who are protesting outside Rau's coaching centre in Old Rajinder Nagar, went on an indefinite hunger strike, on Tuesday, demanding action in the case of the death of three students.
• Ten aspirants started an indefinite hunger strike till their main demands are met. Their demands include compensation of Rs five crore to the victims' families, all the details of the FIR filed in the incident, committee report within a specified time frame and prohibition on using basements for libraries and classes across Delhi, a protestor said. PTI

According to initial findings, the Bada Bazar road where the Rau’s IAS Study Circle is situated, the property owners in the area have constructed ramps over stormwater drains thereby blocking the entry of rainwater. One of the findings states that the area where the Rau’s IAS Study Circle is located is in the shape of a saucer with the lowest point falling right in front of Rau’s coaching centre.
During excessive rains water accumulates in that stretch of land and whenever a vehicle passes through the area, it pushes water to the periphery which finally accumulates in the low-lying area. The Rau’s IAS Study Circle is said to be further down the slope in comparison to the adjoining commercial properties.
“Due to this kind of profile of the road the entire water accumulates in the depression area in case of heavy rain, and water which is supposed to enter into the stormwater drain then into the barrel (a bigger pipeline leading to Najafgarh drain) pushes water into the parking area,” the findings reveal.
The coaching institute had completely blocked the drainage system and has not taken additional safeguards to meet out any eventualities, it added.
Also, the coaching centre’s parking area is directly exposed to the road and in case of heavy rain, the water enters the parking area as the stormwater drains are covered with ramps.
To determine the cause of flooding, the municipal corporation had inspected the barrel (a bigger pipe) which was carrying mixed discharge from Shankar Road and Old Rajinder Nagar, the findings reported.
The flow was checked at various points, including Bada Bazar Market and Pusa Road, and found to be satisfactory with no silt obstructions. The Delhi Jal Board’s sewer in the nearby eight-foot-wide backlane was also reassessed, showing no overflow due to discharge.
In the interim report, the magistrate said that reasons for flooding need to be looked into by a detailed inquiry, which will submit its report in the next seven days.