NEW DELHI: Swati Maliwal, an AAP MP, reached the site in Old Rajender Nagar where students were staging a protest. However, the students opposed her presence, declaring, “We will not let you do politics.”
Swati Maliwal expressed her concerns and demanded action from the authorities.
She stated, “The students are very sad and angry. It has been more than 12 hours, till now neither any minister of Delhi government has come, nor the mayor of MCD, nor any officer.I believe that these deaths are not a disaster, this is a murder, an FIR should be registered against all these big government officials. It is not yet known whether 3 have died or more have died. Compensation of Rs 1 crore should be given to all the students who have died…The minister, Mayor should come here immediately and apologize to them.”
Earlier, Former DCW Chief Swati Maliwal has alleged corruption in the operation of illegal basements in the city.
“Who will take responsibility for the deaths of three students due to drowning in the basement? Students reveal that they had been demanding drain cleaning repeatedly for ten days, but no action was taken. How can illegal basements operate without corruption? How can extra floors be added? How can encroachments on roads and drains occur without bribes? It is clear that there is no need to follow safety rules, just pay money, and the work gets done,” Maliwal said in a post on X.
The protest was triggered by the tragic loss of three students’ lives when the basement of a coaching institute was inundated with water the previous day.
The students continued their demonstration outside Rau’s IAS Study Circle, a coaching center for civil services aspirants situated in Old Rajendra Nagar. The institute’s basement was flooded due to heavy rainfall on Saturday, resulting in the unfortunate deaths of three IAS aspirants.
The incident occurred on Saturday evening, with a total of 30 students present at the centre. While 27 students managed to escape or were rescued, three unfortunately got trapped.
Several agencies, including NDRF, along with personnel from the police and fire brigade, promptly initiated a rescue operation. By 10.30pm, officials confirmed the first casualty as NDRF divers successfully retrieved the body of a girl.
The second victim, also a girl, was recovered around 11.15pm.