Delhi Area Where IAS Aspirants Died Flooded Again After Fresh Spell of Rain

New Delhi: The national capital's Old Rajinder Nagar area, where three students died due to flooding at a coaching center basement last week, was once again submerged after heavy rain on Wednesday evening. Commuters waded through waterlogged lanes, fearing for their safety.

Several videos emerged showing the flood-like conditions on the stretch, which is lined with numerous coaching centers. The BJP criticised the AAP, accusing them of not learning from the tragedy, while the AAP shared videos of local MLA Durgesh Pathak assisting people on the ground and ensuring water was being pumped out.

Drenched by the rain, students who have been protesting since the incident on July 27 shouted slogans while standing in thigh-high water.

"We had come out from our home for dinner and it suddenly started raining and within minutes the whole area got flooded with water," a resident said.

"Even after five days (of the death of the UPSC aspirants), the administration and MCD are only using their complete force to suppress the protest and have done nothing to set the drains cleaned," he charged.

The AAP-led Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has been facing flak after the incident.

The protesting students are demanding improved safety measures at coaching centres that pose a threat to their lives.

A civil services aspirant, who has been part of the protest in the Rajinder Nagar area, said, "There is sparking in the electric poles. Rainwater is gushing into the basements. Students are worried about their safety in such a situation." Another student said that the MCD started a cleaning drive and has claimed that they have cleaned all the drains, but the condition is the same again.

"They (MCD) carried out demolition of encroachments over the stormwater drains, and claimed to have cleaned the drains but the rain again cleared the picture. Knee-deep water accumulated here," said the civil service aspirant.

AAP MLA from Rajinder Nagar Durgesh Pathak reached the area. In a video shared by the Aam Aadmi Party on its X handle, he could be seen wading through water while being accompanied by some students.

"Heavy rain in Delhi. AAP MLA @ipathak25 is present on Ground Zero in Rajinder Nagar. He is getting the water drainage arrangements done in front of him. AAP government is on ALERT MODE," the AAP said in a post on X in Hindi.

The BJP attacked the AAP over the waterlogging situation. Delhi BJP leader Rajesh Bhatia, in a post on X, said, "MLA Durgesh Pathak has still not learnt his lesson. God forbid some untoward incident happens due to increased waterlogging." On Saturday, three civil service aspirants died after the basement of Rau's IAS Study Circle in the Old Rajinder Nagar area was flooded after rain.