Phones kept buzzing with messages on WhatsApp groups with helpless students trying to find where their friends — studying at the Rau’s Coaching centre’s library on Saturday evening — were following the death of three civil services aspirants due to rain-induced flooding in the basement of the coaching centre.

While reports claimed only three lives were lost, students who were witness to the tragic incident unfolding before their eyes claimed a higher number.

All the deceased had cleared their preliminary examination, the results of which was declared a few days ago and were burning midnight oil to prepare for the Mains examinations scheduled in October-November which is second stage of Civil Services Examinations to qualify to become an IAS, IPS or allied services officer.

Thousands like the ones who fell prey to lackadaisical civic amenities make national Capital their karambhoomi for a few years to get into elite Government services.  

“We have WhatsApp groups of UPSC aspirants. Those groups are full with students asking about the whereabouts of their friends. I am sure that the numbers are much higher and the authorities are not giving us the full picture,” said 27-year-old Ankit, adding that while protesting in the wee hours of Saturday, authorities also threw drainage water on them to disperse them.

Old Rajinder Nagar, which is usually bustling with UPSC aspirants in haste to get to their classes, witnessed protests of angry students who are worried about the whereabouts of their colleagues who are nowhere to be found.

Albeit, police claiming three lives, students claimed on seeing at least four to five bodies being taken and the authorities shutting the lights off regularly to not let the general public know the exact situation.

Meanwhile, at the Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital, there was anger among the relatives of the deceased, who claimed they were not being allowed to see the bodies even though they have been waiting since morning.

Deceased Shreya Yadav’s uncle Dharmendra Yadav shared his harrowing experience. “I saw the news about the incident late at night and called Shreya over phone, but she didn’t answer,” he said.

A resident of Ghaziabad, he said when his niece did not respond to his calls, he rushed to the institute in Old Rajinder Nagar. “When I reached the coaching centre, I was directed to RML Hospital, where I learned that a body identified as that of Shreya had been found, but I was not allowed to see her,” he added.           

Shubham, a student of the coaching institute said that they had complained to MCD in June about the persistent waterlogging issue in the low lying area. However nothing changed since then and an hour of rain took the lives of young minds that had cleared their prelims and were preparing for their mains paper.

Local residents and students also lament about the inaction of MCD in solving the drainage situation and state how the coaching centre owners and the civic authorities are hand in gloves over the illegal operation of libraries in the basement with only one exit and entry door.

A resident who lives opposite to the coaching centre recounted how days ago, water was filled in the area and entered their house. “I slipped because of the water and then broke my hand. You can see the fracture. We have met the local councilor and MLA but of no use. You see the locality filled with sludge and garbage even after yesterday’s incident,” he said, adding that nothing will change until the sewer is fixed.

Sonam, who has lived in the area for more than 25 years, stated how there has been no cleaning of drainage since 15 years.

Moreover, students said how almost all coaching centres have their library in basements. Ankit, who studies in the building next to the coaching centre, recounted how the students were studying in level 2 basement and water from the drainage was filled upto 12 to 13 feet. He also flagged how there is a police booth right outside the building and yet no one is ever present. “Authorities came about two hours later. If there was someone present in the booth, actions could have been taken at the earliest,” he said, adding that he filed an RTI in March about the same issue and got no replies in return.