MCD seals basements of seven more coaching centers, including renowned Drishti IAS

Following the tragedy on July 27 that claimed the lives of three civil service aspirants, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has sealed the basement of seven more coaching institutes in the Old Rajinder Nagar and Mukherjee Nagar areas.

A total of 20 coaching centers have been sealed so far. They allegedly utilized their basements as libraries or classrooms

One of the seven coaching centers that the MCD sealed on July 27 was the famous Drishti IAS, which is owned by YouTuber and educator Vikas Divyakirti.

The raids came after the incident on July 27, where heavy rains inundated a library located in the basement of Rau's IAS center, which reportedly caused the failure of the single biometric entry and exit point, resulting in the deaths of the three students.

The deceased students were identified as Tanya Soni (25) of Telangana, Shreya Yadav (25) of Uttar Pradesh, and Nevin Dalvin (24) of Kerala, all three preparing for the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exams.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has formed a committee to probe the incident at Rau's IAS.

Several videos have appeared on social media where hundreds of students are seen raising the "we want justice" slogan while leading a protest march to the Drishti IAS coaching center in Mukherjee Nagar on July 29.

The MCD conducted an anti-encroachment drive in Old Rajinder Nagar, demolishing buildings that were blocking storm drains and causing flooding.

According to MCD commissioner Ashwani Kumar, the sealing process will also target enterprises in other areas of the city that are unlawfully using basements for commercial purposes.

"Until July 28, we had taken action against 13 basement coaching institutes in Old Rajinder Nagar. On July 29, we began the sealing drive and sealed six more basements of similar institutes in the same area," Kumar said.

"The MCD also conducted an anti-encroachment operation to remove constructions that obstructed storm drains. Additionally, the basement of a coaching institute in Mukherjee Nagar has been sealed, and we have also conducted a sealing drive," said MCD Mayor Shelly Oberoi.

Drishti IAS Institute, VajiRam and Ravi IAS hub, SriRam IAS Institute in Old Rajinder Nagar, and Drishti (The Vision) in Mukherjee Nagar were among the renowned coaching centers targeted by the MCD on July 29.

Three basements in the VajiRam and Ravi IAS hub building have been sealed.

"Whereas it has been brought to my notice that the basement of a single unit local shopping center, Vardhman Mall, Nehru Vihar (combined basement of Towers 1, 2, and 3) is being used for a coaching center, a teaching center, and institutes in the name and style of Drishti (The Vision), the instance of the owner and occupier in violation of clause 15.9 of MPD-2021," reads the notice posted at the entrance of the coaching institute in Mukherjee Nagar.

Similar notices were posted at the entrances of the basements sealed by the civic bodies in both localities.

Concerned by the tragedy at the coaching institution in Delhi, Patna district magistrate (DM) Chandrashekhar Singh ordered a crackdown on all coaching institutions operating illegally in the area.

The DM formed six inquiry teams to investigate the operations of all coaching institutions throughout the district.

"Each team would have six members led by the relevant sub-divisional magistrate (SDM)," stated an order issued on July 29 by the DM office's confidential section.

"Besides the SDM, each team will comprise the concerned sub-divisional fire officer, executive officer of the municipal body, circle officer, block education office, and station house officer (SHO) of the concerned police station," reads the notice.

All six teams have been instructed to thoroughly investigate each coaching center under their jurisdiction and deliver a joint inquiry report to the DM within two weeks.

"The teams have been asked to scrutinize/inquire the coaching institutions broadly on six points: registration, security standards, enforcement of building bye-laws, arrangement of fire exits, adequate arrangements for entry and exit of students in the building/campus, and arrangements for students in emergency situations," the notice added.

“The district administration has taken this decision as a preventive measure to avoid any untoward incident in the future. Officials have been directed to complete the inquiry within two weeks. There are around 300 coaching centers in Patna,” the DM said.