Delhi coaching centre deaths: MCD official meets protesting students; admits ‘failure’

New Delhi [India], July 31 (ANI): Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) authorities met with a group of students on Wednesday who are on a hunger strike protesting the deaths of three UPSC aspirants after the basement of a coaching centre in Central Delhi’s Old Rajinder Nagar was flooded with rainwater on Saturday, July 27.

While interacting with protesting students, MCD’s Additional Commissioner, Tariq Thomas, admitted that the incident was a ‘failure’ of the civic body officials.

“It is a failure for all of us and for me personally. It is a failure for us as officers that this incident has happened,” Thomas said, taking responsibility for the lapse.

He admitted that the officials should have performed their duties better, saying, “This should not have happened. We should have done our duty better; there is no excuse.”

A delegation of students was taken to the MCD commissioner’s office in a police bus for the meeting.

Protesting students said that they would not stop until their demands are not met.

Earlier, on Tuesday, students and representatives from 15 coaching institutions met Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena.

According to a student present at the meeting, they demanded Rs 3 crore in compensation for the families of the deceased students. While the coaching centre has not yet disclosed the compensation amount, they have agreed to provide it.

“Representatives of coaching institutes asked to make a bridge between the institute and students so they can pay the compensation money. LG sir assured us that a committee will be formed, where student representatives of coaching institutes and government officials will be part of the students, and the committee will check whether the norms of the buildings are being followed properly or not,” the student added.

In response to the incident, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) issued notices to the Delhi Chief Secretary, Police Commissioner, and MCD Commissioner on Tuesday, demanding a detailed report within two weeks. The NHRC also directed a survey to identify coaching centres operating in violation of norms and to take action against negligent officials who failed to address these irregularities.