The death of three civil service aspirants due to waterlogging in the basement of a Rajendra Nagar coaching center has led to widespread protests by students. Paramilitary forces have been deployed to maintain order as students accuse municipal authorities of negligence.

The incident occurred at a building housing Rau's IAS Study Circle, a well-known coaching institute for civil service aspirants. The institute's library, located in the basement, became flooded after heavy rainfall. The basement, which had only one entry-exit point and was accessed by biometric authentication, trapped at least 20 students when the power went out, disabling the biometric system.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) M Harshavardhan stated that a criminal case has been filed and forensic teams are investigating. "Two people have been detained. NDRF has recovered three bodies so far, with one final search underway. Three students have been hospitalized, and 13-14 others have been rescued and are safe," he said. Charges include culpable homicide not amounting to murder and causing death by negligence.

Protesting students are demanding accountability from civic authorities. "If this happens after 30 minutes of rain, who is responsible? No one has addressed us or given any assurances," one protester said. Some students accused the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and the institute's director of negligence. "MCD calls it a disaster, but this is negligence. Knee-deep water accumulates in half an hour of rain," a student told ANI.

The victims have been identified as Tania Soni and Shreya Yadav, both 25, and Navin Delvin, 28.

Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi called the incident "very shocking" and demanded a "thorough investigation" and "swift and strongest possible action." She has ordered action against coaching centers operating illegally in basements and an inquiry into potential MCD officer culpability.

In response to the tragedy, the BJP has criticized the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi. "This is a failure of the government and municipal corporation. This is the most insensitive government ever in this country. This is murder," BJP spokesperson Manjinder Singh Sirsa told NDTV.

BJP officials have targeted Delhi Minister Atishi and local MLA Durgesh Pathak. Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva claimed that Pathak ignored repeated requests from residents to clean the drains. "The Delhi Government's criminal negligence is responsible for this mishap. Jal Board Minister Atishi and local MLA Durgesh Pathak should resign," he said.

Pathak countered by questioning the BJP's actions over the past 15 years. "This is a low-lying area and there is a water line here. Some drain has cracked and that led to the flooding. The teams are doing their work," he told ANI. "The BJP must answer too. For the past 15 years, this area had a BJP councillor. Why was the drain not made? All drains cannot be made in one year. Politics must not be done in this case," he added.