New Delhi, India – In a tragic incident that has sparked widespread political criticism and calls for reform, three civil services aspirants lost their lives due to the flooding of a coaching center’s basement in Delhi. The incident has been labeled as ‘murder’ by opposition parties, highlighting the severe negligence in maintaining the city’s infrastructure.
Delhi’s political circles were ablaze with accusations and demands for accountability. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) criticized the current administration led by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), citing their failure to handle the city’s longstanding drainage problems despite being aware of the waterlogging issues reported days before the catastrophe.
Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva expressed his dismay, pointing out that the students came to Delhi with aspirations for a brighter future but instead fell victim to what he described as “corruption”. BJP’s New Delhi MP Bansuri Swaraj claimed that despite the problem being flagged to AAP officials, including Rajinder Nagar MLA and MCD in-charge Durgesh Pathak, no preventive action was taken.
Pathak responded, emphasizing that the AAP has only controlled the municipal corporation for one year and is in the process of overhauling the drainage system. He stressed the need for an impartial investigation into the incident and asserted his party’s commitment to transparent governance rather than engaging in political blame games.
From the Congress party’s side, spokesperson Pawan Khera described the event as a “man-made disaster”, putting the spotlight on the regulatory handling of city infrastructure and the enforcement of safety standards in educational establishments. He also referenced a recent incident where a student was electrocuted in a different area of Delhi, further questioning the safety of the city’s public facilities.
Senior AAP leader and Delhi Cabinet Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj demonstrated the government’s awareness and ongoing efforts by sharing a video of a meeting addressing waterlogging and the de-silting of drains involving top municipal and public works officials.
Discussion of structural checks and the regulation of basement spaces for commercial use also came to the forefront, with both BJP and AAP leaders noting the illegal conversion of spaces meant for parking or storage into active teaching environments without adequate safety measures.
In a poignant moment, Delhi Congress chief Devender Yadav visited the site of the protest staged by grieving students and extended his solidarity. He acknowledged the legitimacy of their agitation and the depth of their loss, advocating for swift justice and stricter oversight.
As Delhi reels from this tragedy, all eyes are on the ensuing actions by municipal and state authorities. The involvement of civic bodies like the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) and Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has been highlighted, with calls for enhanced machinery and resources to tackle infrastructural deficiencies being amplified by public and political voices alike.
The tragedy has thus become a fulcrum for broader discourse on urban safety, governance, and the implications of administrative lapses on the youth and future of India. The AAP has vowed to persist in its efforts to inspect and regulate risky commercial activities in unauthorized areas, signaling potential stringent actions against violations in city planning and maintenance. The collective demand for accountability and reform grows as the community mourns the untimely loss of its young aspirants.