New Delhi:

The government issued guidelines on the regulation of coaching centers in January this year, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan informed Lok Sabha on Monday, even as he evaded a direct reply to a question on the death of three IAS aspirants in Delhi due to flooding.  

During the Question Hour, Congress MP KC Venugopal mentioned the death of the three students and said the institute had no approved building.  

“Without an approved building, without any facility, some of the coaching centers become mafia… is the government going to take any action?” he said.  Mr Venugopal also raised concerns about students’ suicides.

Quoting information provided by the ministry in an earlier written reply, he said that between 2018-2022, around 80 students committed suicide in top-ranking institutions like IITs and IIMs, adding that caste discrimination is a major reason behind it.  In his response, Mr Pradhan said, “The member has raised a question which is not related to the question put today.”

“But I like to assure the House through you, this government is committed to total socio-psychological and mental protection of all students, whether they are studying in a coaching center, in an institution, school education or higher education,” he said.  

He said exhaustive and detailed guidelines on coaching centers were issued to all states in January, 2024.

“Some states also have regulations, like Rajasthan, Bihar, Goa. They have their own regulations to look into the matter,” he said.  

“Regarding the protection, this is a socio-psychological issue. We all have to take care. This is not an issue to be dealt with through only allegations and answers,” he said.

Three civil services aspirants died on Saturday after the basement of a building housing a coaching centre in central Delhi’s Old Rajinder Nagar area was flooded following heavy rains.

In his reply to another question, Mr Pradhan dismissed that India was witnessing “brain-drain” with students going abroad for higher education. The students who go outside have made the country proud, he said.

TMC MP Saugata Roy asked if the number of students going abroad is increasing. He said good quality higher education not being available in India was the reason behind the “brain-drain”.  

The education minister asserted the intelligence of Indian students should not be criticised for political reasons, and also said there is no dearth of high quality education institutions in the country.  

He named Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Adobe Systems CEO Shantanu Narayen, and IBM CEO Arvind Krishna among those who came out of the Indian education system. India is proud of them, he said.

“Go to any economic hotspot, Indians are thriving there… We grow due to this connectivity. The globe is shrinking into a village. Depriving our next generation of the good standards of the world is wrong,” he said.  Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, however, said that the top institutions named by the minister are like just a “few islands of excellence in a vast ocean of mediocrity”, and improvement is required.  

Mr Pradhan in reply said he is open to suggestions, and added that the government is stressing on quality education, and there are ranking systems to evaluate it.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

The death of three civil service aspirants at a Delhi coaching centre has sent a shockwave across the city, especially within the student community. One such student, has reached out to the Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, seeking immediate action into those responsible for the death of 3 UPSC aspirants in Rajinder Nagar after the basement of their coaching centre was flooded.

Avinash Dubey, a UPSC aspirant himself, has written a letter to the CJI demanding action against city officials and others responsible for the deaths. He also requested DY Chandrachud to direct the Delhi government and civic body MCD to take appropriate steps to tackle the waterlogging issue.

Here is the full text of the letter Avinash Dubey wrote to CJI DY Chandrachud over the three deaths at a Delhi coaching centre:

Respected Chief Justice Supreme Court of India

Subject – To protect our fundamental rights

Sir, I am Avinash Dubey who is staying in Delhi’s Mukherjee Nagar and preparing for civil services. Yesterday, on 27 July 2024, 3 of our student mates who were preparing for Civil Services in a coaching institute in Old Rajendra Nagar lost their lives in an unfortunate manner without any fault of theirs. It has come to light that some students were taking coaching in the basement of a coaching institute. Due to rain, the basement was flooded and the 3 students lost their lives after getting trapped there. Sir, areas like Mukherjee Nagar, Old Rajendra Nagar of Delhi have been facing the problem of waterlogging every year due to the apathy of the municipality here. Due to lack of cleanliness, the drain water reaches the main road and sometimes even enters houses. We have to walk through knee-deep drain water. Sir, due to the indifference of the municipality and the Delhi government, today students like us are living a hell-like life for our preparation. Students like us are moving towards our goals by whatever means we can. But, yesterday’s incident has proved that the lives of students are not safe. Delhi government and municipality have made us helpless just like insects. Sir, it is our fundamental right to study while living a healthy life, unfortunately the Delhi government and municipality are completely indifferent to it due to which the lives of students like us are in danger. The above incident is extremely heartbreaking and worrying. Due to waterlogging, there is a serious threat to the safety and health of the students studying in the centre. In such a situation, there is a need for students to get a safe and healthy environment, so that they can continue their studies without any fear and can contribute to the progress of the country in the near future. Keeping in mind the interests of the students, it is necessary that the concerned authorities take immediate effective steps and provide a permanent solution to the problem of waterlogging. Apart from this, there is also a need to strengthen emergency services and security measures at the coaching centre. Proper evacuation routes, first aid facilities and regular sanitation arrangements should be ensured for the students. Keeping in mind the concerns of parents and guardians of students, coaching centers should get regular structural inspections done and be prepared to deal with problems like waterlogging. The future and lives of students are extremely valuable, and keeping them safe from such incidents should be our priority. Therefore, you are respectfully requested to protect the lives and fundamental rights of students like us and please order appropriate action against those responsible for the death of our 3 student brothers.

New Delhi:
Absence of drainage system and illegal construction in the basement for commercial activities led to the death of three UPSC aspirants at a Delhi coaching centre. The incident has sparked a political blame and BJP are planning a mega protest today.

Here are 10 updates about the Delhi coaching centre flooding:

New Delhi:

The coaching centre at whose establishment three students died due to rain-induced flooding in the basement on Sunday condoled the loss of young lives and said they are fully committed to supporting the ongoing investigation.

The UPSC aspirants — two females and a male — lost their lives as they were trapped inside the library running in the basement of the Old Rajinder Nagar-based Rau’s IAS Study Circle, which was flooded due to a sudden evening downpour in the national capital on Saturday.

“In light of the recent tragic event involving the students of Rajendra Nagar Rau’s IAS Study Circle, Rau’s IAS Study Circle extends its heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones of the deceased students, Tanya Soni, Nevin Dalvin, and Shreya Yadav. Our thoughts are profoundly with the families during this incredibly difficult time,” read the statement.

In the statement, the institute said they “are deeply saddened by the loss of these promising young individuals who were preparing to serve our nation with dedication and commitment”.

“RAU’s IAS Study Circle is fully committed to supporting the ongoing investigations into this tragic incident. We are cooperating fully with the relevant authorities and agencies to ensure that all necessary information is provided and that the investigation proceeds with the utmost diligence,” read the statement.

The police have arrested the owner and the coordinator of Rau’s IAS Study Circle and booked them for culpable homicide and under other charges.

The absence of drainage system and safety measures, and flouting of norms led to the tragic deaths of three IAS aspirants, officials and students said on Sunday.

The Delhi government has ordered a magisterial probe into the tragedy.

This tragedy has touched us all, and we recognise the profound impact it has had on their families, friends, and the broader community,” the statement by the coaching centre said.

“We are dedicated to assisting in any way possible to uncover the truth and ensure accountability.

“As we await further developments, we remain steadfast in our commitment to providing support to the affected families and addressing any concerns that arise from this incident. We urge everyone to respect the privacy of the families during this time of grief and to extend their support and compassion in any way possible,” the statement said.

It said their “organisation stands united in honouring the memory of Tanya Soni, Nevin Dalvin, and Shreya Yadav”.

“Their aspirations and dreams will be remembered, and their loss will be felt deeply by all who knew them,” read the statement.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Three UPSC aspirants died after they were trapped in the basement of a popular coaching centre in Cental Delhi last last evening, triggering massive protests.

Hundreds of students and locals in the area gathered outside the Rau’s IAS Study Circle in Old Rajinder Nagar this morning demanding action against the coaching centre and authorities for negligence that claimed the lives of three students.

Officials said a drain had exploded, leading to the flooding in the basement.

The incident prompted a sharp attack on the ruling AAP from the BJP that claimed that the local MLA had ignored repeated appeals by locals to get the drains cleaned.

“There should be an inquiry into the alleged corruption by Arvind Kejriwal, Atishi and their government. There should be an inquiry as to why the drainage was not cleaned by the Delhi Municipal Corporation,” said Delhi BJP Chief Virendra Sachdeva.

BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj slammed the AAP government and said that the Kejriwal’s government did not listen to the locals.

“These children came here to create their future. But the government of Arvind Kejriwal and MLA Durgesh Pathak did not listen to any requests of the local people. People had been asking Durgesh Pathak for last one week to get the drainage systems cleaned. Arvind Kejriwal and Durgesh Pathak are responsible for the deaths,” she said.

BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonwalla also slammed the Kejriwal-led government, calling the incident a “murder” committed by AAP.

On the BJP’s allegations, AAP MLA Durgesh Pathak said the party’s councillors were in power in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi for 15 years but did not get drains constructed. “This is not the time for politics. The focus now is on saving the students,” the MLA said.

Visuals from Rajendra Nagar showed the basement of Rau’s IAS Study Circle completely flooded.

Fire brigade officials said they received a call about students being stuck in the basement at 7.19 pm last evening and five fire engines were dispatched to assist in rescue operations. Teams from the National Disaster Response Force also assisted in the rescue operation,.

The bodies of two female students were pulled out hours after the rescue operation began. The body of the third student, a male, was recovered later into the night.

The incident comes days after a UPSC aspirant was electrocuted while trying to cross a waterlogged street in Patel Nagar, which is also in West Delhi.