Rajendra Nagar accident
– Photo : Amar Ujala
Expansion
Vajiram and Ravi Institute, Drishti IAS, Next IAS and Shriram IAS have offered Rs 10 lakh compensation to the families of three IAS aspirants Shreya Yadav, Tanya Soni and Navin Dalvin. The three aspirants died due to waterlogging in the basement of the coaching institute. The incident took place on July 27 when rainwater entered the basement of Rao IAS Study Circle in Old Rajendra Nagar.
Drishti IAS and Shriram IAS have also offered a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to another UPSC aspirant Nilesh Rai, who died of electrocution in Patel Nagar on July 22. Hundreds of civil service aspirants, who were protesting over the death of three students, called the compensation a gimmick and a strategy to dilute the issue. After the death of the three aspirants, the MCD was forced to seal the basements of several coaching centres in the area.
According to officials, using the basement for commercial purposes is a violation of building bylaws. In a statement on X, Vajiram & Ravi said it is “voluntarily offering free admission to students who are currently enrolled in Rao IAS Study Circle” preparing for Mains exam 2024 and Prelims-cum-Mains exam 2025 including General Studies.
It said, “As a sign of solidarity with the families of the departed souls, Vajiram and Ravi have come forward to make a financial contribution of Rs 10 lakh each to the three candidates who lost their lives recently.” Sriram IAS also offered the use of his classrooms and libraries to the students of Rao’s IAS Study Circle “whenever needed.”
