Following the tragedy caused by waterlogging in the basement of Rouse IAS Study Circle in Delhi, two fire officers, Ved Pal and Udayveer Singh, have been suspended. They are accused of negligence and concealing information about illegal activities.
New Delhi: Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena has suspended two officers of the Fire Safety Department in connection with the tragic incident that occurred in the basement of Rouse IAS Study Circle, located in Old Rajendra Nagar. In July 2024, three students died due to waterlogging in the coaching center's basement. The investigation revealed that the incident was possible due to the negligence of the officers and the concealment of facts.
Names of Suspended Officers
The suspended officers include Ved Pal (Divisional Officer) and Udayveer Singh (Assistant Divisional Officer). Both are accused of negligence during duty and concealing information about the illegal use of the basement. Due to their actions, the fire safety certificate was issued incorrectly, which is considered a major cause of this incident.
Details of the Incident
On July 27, 2024, heavy rainfall led to waterlogging in the coaching center's basement library. Shreya Yadav (25) from Uttar Pradesh, Tanya Soni (25) from Telangana, and Nevin Delvin (24) from Kerala died by suffocation in the water. This tragedy shook the entire Delhi.
Negligence Revealed in Investigation
The investigation conducted by the District Magistrate (Central) revealed that Ved Pal and Udayveer Singh concealed information about the illegal use of the basement in July 2024 and did not inform the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). Despite this, the fire safety certificate was issued on July 9, which became the main cause of the incident.
Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena has approved this action under Rule 18 and Rule 14 of the CCS (CCA) Rules 1965. After the suspension, the matter will be sent to the National Capital Civil Service Authority (NCCSA) for further action.
