Months after the tragic deaths of three UPSC aspirants at Rau’s IAS Study Circle in Old Rajinder Nagar, Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena has approved the suspension of two Group A fire safety officers.
Ved Pal, Divisional Officer, and Udai Vir Singh, Assistant Divisional Officer, were suspended following an inquiry into the incident.
The inquiry, conducted by the District Magistrate (Central), revealed that the officers had inspected the premises prior to issuing a Fire Safety Certificate on July 9, 2024.
Despite discovering the illegal use of the basement as a library, they failed to report the violation to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). Their negligence led to the wrongful issuance of the safety certificate.
The MCD also faced criticism for its role in the incident. Investigations revealed that the civic agency failed to inspect or seal the unlawfully operating basement and had issued a completion-cum-occupancy certificate in September 2021, despite clear violations.
Students accused the MCD of negligence, particularly for failing to ensure proper drainage during the monsoon.
On July 27, heavy rainfall caused the basement of the coaching center to flood within minutes, trapping and killing three students: Shreya Yadav (25) from Uttar Pradesh, Tanya Soni (25) from Telangana, and Nevin Delvin (24) from Kerala.
The case has prompted disciplinary action against other officials from the MCD and Public Works Department (PWD) for the area’s poor drainage infrastructure.
The matter has been referred to the National Capital Civil Service Authority (NCCSA) for further recommendations on disciplinary measures.
This incident has highlighted critical lapses in regulatory oversight and infrastructure management, raising concerns about student safety in high-risk areas.
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