Coaching centre deaths: 2 fire officers to face the heat

Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena has approved disciplinary proceedings against two senior fire officers for alleged negligence and concealment of facts in connection with the July 2024 tragedy at Rau’s Coaching Centre in Old Rajender Nagar where three civil services aspirants died after being trapped in a flooded basement library.

The L-G has sanctioned disciplinary proceedings under Rule 18 read with Rule 14 of the CCS (CCA) Rules, 1965, against Vedpal, Divisional Officer, and Udai Vir Singh, Assistant Divisional Officer — both Group-A officers of the Fire Department, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD).

The two had inspected the premises on July 1, 2024, just weeks before the tragedy, and cleared it for fire safety certification, allegedly ignoring that the basement was being misused as a seating room and library. Based on their report, the fire safety certificate was issued on July 9, 2024.

A subsequent district magistrate inquiry found the officers guilty of concealing the misuse of the premises, leading to their suspension last year. The L-G has now directed the Directorate of Vigilance to ensure timely completion of the disciplinary proceedings.

The incident on July 27, 2024, claimed the lives of three young aspirants — Tania Soni (25), Shreya Yadav (25), and Navin Delvin (28) — after heavy rainfall caused flooding in the basement. The single biometric entry system reportedly failed during the deluge, trapping them inside.

The incident had triggered widespread outrage among UPSC aspirants and local residents. Students staged protests for nearly a week demanding justice for the deceased and stricter enforcement of safety norms at coaching centres. Locals had told The Tribune then that the tragedy was “a disaster waiting to happen,” citing decades of waterlogging issues in the Old Rajender Nagar area.

Earlier this year, on the first anniversary of the tragedy, The Tribune revisited the site and found that while civic infrastructure in the area had improved, the once-bustling hub of coaching centres had lost its old vibrancy. Locals pointed out that new drainage systems and wider gutters had reduced flooding, but footfall had declined drastically.