SUV Driver Arrested in Connection with Flooding Tragedy at Rau’s IAS Coaching Centre

New Delhi July 29 2024 :  The Delhi Police arrested the driver of an SUV, who allegedly contributed to the flooding that resulted in the deaths of three UPSC aspirants at Rau’s IAS coaching centre in Old Rajinder Nagar. The incident occurred on Saturday when heavy rains caused significant waterlogging in the area.

The driver, who was behind the wheel of a Force Gurkha, was apprehended along with four other individuals on Monday. Among those arrested is Abhishek Gupta, the owner of Rau’s IAS Study Centre. The arrests come as part of the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy, which claimed the lives of Shreya Yadav from Uttar Pradesh, Tanya Soni from Telangana, and Nevin Dalwin from Kerala.

DCP (Central) M Harshvardhan explained, “The driver has been charged under various sections, including BNS section 105, which pertains to culpable homicide not amounting to murder. The investigation established negligence on the part of the driver, who was captured in a widely circulated video driving at high speed past the coaching institute.”

According to police reports, the driver’s actions led to the gate of the building being damaged, which allowed rainwater to flood into the basement where the coaching classes were held. The police used CCTV footage to identify the driver and the vehicle involved.

“A street vendor attempted to stop the driver before he hit the gate, but the SUV continued, breaking the gate and accelerating the flow of water into the building,” added DCP Harshvardhan. “The driver had no known connection to the coaching centre or the building owner.”

The basement premises, where the institute was operating, belonged to other individuals who have also been taken into custody. The owners and coordinators of the coaching centre face similar charges of culpable homicide and other related offenses.

The case has drawn significant attention, with calls for accountability and improved safety measures for educational institutions in flood-prone areas.