NEW DELHI: The administration, which claims that three students died during the flooding of the IAS coaching center library at Rau’s IAS Study Circle on Saturday, July 27 is under scrutiny as ground reports suggest the death toll may be higher.
One eyewitness, student Rishu Singh, told The New Indian, “They are completely tampering with the data. I saw eight bodies being brought from the basement at about 2:30 AM.”
At least 15 students were trapped in the basement library of Rau’s IAS Study Circle while they were present in the library, officially designated as a storeroom. The other students somehow could exit but the rest of them were left.
The library was located in the second under ground floor, which quickly filled with rain and drainage water. Ground reports indicate that water was also leaked into the library from the building, resulting in 10-15 feet of water accumulating within just 10 minutes, giving students no time to escape.
Singh further added, “They turned off the lights while removing the bodies. I was present and saw everything, they are hiding facts, the water was evacuated at 5:30 AM.”
The library had only one exit, and no Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) were followed. Students have been protesting since Sunday, July 28, to address multiple issues and voice their concerns against the negligence and dishonesty of the coaching institutes and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi.
The MCD has called the tragedy a natural calamity whereas the protester calls it the negligence and illegal conduct of everyone who is responsible including the MCD and the coaching administration. They also allege that this matter has only come to light when this tragedy has occurred while these issues were already existing since ever but, went unnoticed.