New Delhi: A UPSC aspirant from Madhya Pradesh filed a complaint with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) about the alleged illegal use of the basement at RAU’s IAS coaching centre a month before the flooding incident that claimed the lives of three students.
In the complaint dated 26 June, 29-year-old Kishor Singh Kushwah described how the basement classrooms in Delhi’s Old Rajinder Nagar posed a significant risk to the safety of students and staff, warning of the “potential for a major accident”
More recently, another complaint was filed with the MCD on 24 July, just three days before the flooding incident, regarding the electrocution cases caused by waterlogging in the monsoon season in Karol Bagh’s Old Rajinder Nagar area. The name of the person who filed the complaint is not mentioned.
ThePrint has accessed copies of both complaints.
Kishor Singh Kushwah in his complaint suggested “corruption” by the MCD. “It has come to my notice that Rau’s IAS is operating classrooms in the basement without the required permission and without obtaining a No Objection Certificate (NOC). The location of these classrooms is in Old Rajinder Nagar, Karol Bagh, New Delhi, and they are conducting test classes,” his complaint said.
“It is requested to inform the concerned authority. They have stated that the money for this goes to the Commissioner of the Delhi Municipal Corporation (MCD), highlighting a major example of corruption within the MCD,” the complaint added.
Kushwah, who has completed his coaching classes, has been residing in Old Rajinder Nagar for the past 2 to 3 years while preparing for civil services examinations, like many other students in the area. He shared with ThePrint that he has frequently observed waterlogging issues there and has personally been stranded on two occasions.
“During one such instance when I got stuck while crossing a road, I noticed the basement. I realised this was a significant problem. I wondered how the MCD had given permission for a double basement, especially for a bungalow with a smart lock gate, when no such permit exists,” he said.
Kushwah said that he has also sent reminders twice regarding his complaint — once on 15 July and then another on 22 July.
“Sir please take action. It is an issue of student safety,” he wrote in his reminder dated 22 July.
“I have lived in that area. I was there when it was flooded, and I felt very bad and guilty too. I had filed the complaint a month ago. If they had listened and taken action at that time, the unfortunate tragedy could have been avoided,” he said while speaking to ThePrint.
Three students lost their lives after drowning in the basement of the coaching centre in Delhi’s Old Rajinder Nagar Saturday. Seven people have been arrested so far, including the two owners of the building.
Meanwhile, in the other unnamed complaint filed on 24 July, the complainant wrote, “There are many naked wires lying everywhere, a life-threatening sign for people. The issue is very concerning as we have seen many fatal cases in Delhi that led to death so it’s a very humble request to take immediate actions for the safety concern of the people (sic),” the complaint said.
The copy accessed by ThePrint also contains the automated response which said that the complaint has been forwarded to the MCD control room and the “complaint no. is 854”.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has formed a committee to look into the tragic incident. This committee will determine the causes, assign responsibility, recommend preventive measures, and suggest policy changes. The committee is expected to submit its report within 30 days.
(Edited by Zinnia Ray Chaudhuri)
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