Coaching centres in places such as Mukherjee Nagar and Old Rajinder Nagar of Delhi have become important locations for students preparing for competitive exams such as the UPSC, SSC, and IIT-JEE. However, the conditions of such centres have been the epicentre of major issues.
On July 27, 2024, one of the most tragic incidents occurred at Rau’s IAS Study Circle in Old Rajinder Nagar. Several students got trapped in the basement of the coaching, which was unlawfully used as a library, during heavy rains. The drains were blocked due to illegal encroachments, leading to severe waterlogging. The biometric entry and exit system failed, preventing students from escaping and leading to fatality. Three students—Tania Soni, Shreya Yadav, and Nevin Dalwin— consequently, drowned in the flooded basement.
This incident brought out several violations of the coaching centre regarding safety, including illegal use of the basement for purposes other than storage, poor exit way in case of emergency, and poor maintenance of the drainage system. The fire department confirmed that the coaching centre had got a No Objection Certificate for the three-story building, but the basement was allowed only for storage purposes. The misutilization of this space coupled with negligence in the maintenance of the drainage system resulted in the tragedy.
Mukherjee Nagar, one of the major spots for test preparation, saw another incident where a coaching centre caught on fire. The fire, caused by a short circuit, spread very quickly in the building due to the absence of proper fire safety measures. Many students were trapped inside; though no lives were lost, several students suffered from injuries. An investigation by the fire department discovered that the building did not meet any of the many demands concerning fire safety: it did not have working extinguishers, emergency exits that could be clearly seen, or an appropriate system of fire alarms.
Most coaching centres are run from basements and other areas that have not received the permissions to be used as education facilities. Many of these spaces lack ventilation, emergency exits, and building norms. A day before the basement of Rau’s IAS coaching centre became a death trap for three aspirants, a girl named Vani Awasthi died of electrocution allegedly by a biometric machine while registering her attendance at another coaching centre in Delhi. She is presently under treatment at a private hospital in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh. A witness on the spot said rain had caused earthing in the gates on which the biometric machine was installed.
Strong actions have been taken by the Delhi government against such discrepancies. Multiple coaching centres have been sealed, and notices have been issued to enforce compliance with safety and building norms. At the same time, the government is developing a Coaching Institute Regulation Act to enforce strict regulations for running coaching centres, with safety measures along with adherence to building codes being obligatory. Legal action has also been taken in which several pleas have been moved before the Delhi High Court to make those who caused these tragedies accountable for their negligence. These pleas pray for proper investigations of the operational practices of coaching centres and the enforcement of strict safety standards.
Most of the worst living areas of the students are really in doldrums, meaning most of the students live in dingy, substandard rooms located next to places that serve as coaching hubs. These congenial conditions of living greatly lack basic amenities and are invariably accompanied by problems such as waterlogging, power outages, and the like during monsoon seasons. The highly pressurized environment of competitive exam preparation and poor living conditions are therefore combining to impose unusually high levels of mental and physical stress on the students. Recent tragic incidents seem to have raised stress levels and stepped up demands for better regulation and support systems.
The issue is exacerbated by corruption and negligence within government departments. There have been instances of coaching centers obtaining clearances without ensuring safety or adhering to regulations, primarily due to the influence of bribery. Tragic incidents have occurred repeatedly, highlighting the lack of control by these centers. Despite court directives to enforce safety measures, compliance has been inadequate. Recent events underscore the urgent need for more rigorous monitoring and accountability mechanisms to prevent further fatal accidents and improve the quality of life of the students.
Jazbia Junaid is a student pursuing English Honours from Jamia Millia Islamia.
Edited by: Zakia Tasnim Ahmed
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of The Jamia Review or its members.
