• Source:JND
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Three students preparing for the UPSC Civil Services exams in Delhi drowned in the flooded basement of a coaching centre on Saturday. The incident occurred in the Old Rajendra Nagar area following heavy rains in the national capital. The bodies of two students have been recovered, while search efforts for the remaining one are underway.

Delhi Police stated that National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams and divers are at the site, conducting a search operation amid poor visibility and significant waterlogging in the basement. The incident occurred around 7 pm, catching many by surprise due to the sudden influx of water, reported news agency ANI.

Delhi Minister Atishi assured that she is monitoring the situation closely and receiving updates every minute. The minister added that an inquiry has been ordered to investigate the cause of the incident. She stated that anyone found responsible for the tragic event would be held accountable and face appropriate consequences.

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Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi stated that initial investigation suggested that a drainage or sewer exploded, resembling a flash flood and causing the basement to fill with water. She said that investigations and rescue operations are currently underway and clarification on the incident is expected soon. 

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BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj alleged that the tragic incident took place due to the negligence of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and MLA Durgesh Pathak. Bansuri Swaraj stated that for the past week, locals had been asking Durgesh Pathak to have the drainage systems cleaned. However, despite these requests, the street remains waterlogged with 2.5 feet of water, the Lok Sabha MP claimed.

"These children came here to create their future. But the government of CM Arvind Kejriwal and MLA Durgesh Pathak did not listen to any requests of the local people. People had been asking Durgesh Pathak for the last one week to get the drainage systems cleaned. There are still 2.5 feet of waterlogged on the street... Arvind Kejriwal and Durgesh Pathak are responsible for the deaths," Bansuri Swaraj said.

A mob of students watching the search operations. (Image: Jagran)

Meanwhile, AAP MLA Durgesh Pathak blamed the BJP for the negligence and questioned what steps the BJP took to build the drainage system in the last 15 years. 

"This is a low-line area. The water moves from this line. Either a drain or a sewer has broken and the water got filled in the basement... The teams are doing their job... BJP should also answer what they did. It was their councillor for the last 15 years, why the drainage was not built. All drainages cannot be made in one year. There is no need for politics," Durgesh Pathak said as quoted by news agency ANI.

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In a related incident, a UPSC aspirant named Nilesh, who was preparing for the IAS exams, died recently due to an electric shock in Patel Nagar. Nilesh had attempted the UPSC exam three times and had successfully cleared the preliminary exam on his third attempt. He was hopeful about clearing the main exam this time.

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