Video Shows The Moment Water Entered Into Coaching Center's Basement Where 3 Students Drowned

Three students drowned to their death in the basement of Rau’s IAS Study Circle coaching centre after it was flooded due to heavy rain in Delhi’s Old Rajender Nagar on Saturday. A video surfaced on the internet showing how a strong force of water entered into the basement – being used as a library in violation of norms – suddenly.

The video showed a four-wheeler passing through the water accumulated on the road outside the institute, splashing it on its gate. In the next frame, the gate of the institute could be seen seemingly coming down due to the strong flow of water that can be seen entering the basement.

The basement was eight feet below the ground level and several students were present in it when the incident took place on Saturday evening.

Disaster rescue teams retrieved the bodies of two females and one male from the site after seven hours. Police identified the victims as Shreya Yadav (25) of Ambedkar Nagar in Uttar Pradesh, Tanya Soni (25) from Telangana and Navin Dalwin (28) from Ernakulam in Kerala.

The owner and coordinator of the coaching centre were arrested and booked under charges of culpable homicide among others. Police identified the owner as Abhishek Gupta and the other accused as Deshpal Singh. Both the accused were sent to 14 days of judicial custody.

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) officials reached the building housing the coaching centre Rau’s IAS Study Circle on Sunday evening to determine the cause of flooding in the basement. They have also sealed three such ‘illegal’ basements in the area.

“The property owner is found to be in violation of building bylaws as much as the use of the basement is concerned. The basement was allowed for parking and storage. Using the basement as a library and reading hall was not allowed though stacking or stocking of books could be done,” the officials said.