Cracking UPSC exam was always her dream since childhood, says Tanya Soni’s father

Hyderabad: Tanya Soni, one of the three UPSC aspirants from Telangana who died due to rain-induced flooding in the basement of a coaching centre in Delhi, had since her childhood dreamt of becoming a civil servant.

Three students fell victim to a flood in the basement of Rau’s IAS coaching centre in Delhi. Victims are--Tania Soni, 25, from Telangana; Shreya Yadav, 25, from Uttar Pradesh; and Navin Delvin, 28, from Kerala.

The victims were trapped for over four hours when water suddenly gushed into the basement following heavy rains.

Tanya travelled to Delhi to pursue her ambition of entering the government service after completing her Class XII education in Mancherial.

Tanya's father Vijay, a native of Bihar's Nabinagar. Kumar has been working with the state-run Singareni Collieries Company Ltd (SCCL) in Telangana for the past 25 years. He is presently a Deputy General Manager in SCCL and the family is settled in Mancherial.

Vijay Kumar told that his daughter had been studying at the centre for the past one month after graduating in BA political science from a college in the national capital.

"Tanya had completed her graduation in Delhi and was preparing for UPSC there. She had a lot of interest since her childhood (in cracking UPSC)," Vijay Kumar said, as he was on his way to take his daughter's body from Delhi to their native place in Bihar.

He said the family was travelling in a train to Lucknow when they received the news about death of Tanya. "After getting information (about Tanya's death) we got down at Nagpur and took a flight to Delhi," he said.

Kumar said Tanya's body has been handed over to them and "we are on the way to Bihar (where the last rites will be conducted)".

Families, friends of Delhi coaching centre victims demand strict action against guilty persons

Pradeep, a relative of Tanya, said, "Someone has to take the responsibility of this mishap and death of three students -- either the coaching institute, MCD (Municipal Corporation of Delhi) or the government. Action should be taken against all the institutes which are running classes in the basement."

He said they have learnt that the basement was supposed to be used as a storage facility but was being used run a library, which had put the lives of so many students in jeopardy.

Tanya's body was taken to her native place Aurangabad in Bihar, he said.

Delhi coaching centre incident: Owner, coordinator sent to 14-day judicial custody

A court here on Sunday sent to 14-day judicial custody the owner and coordinator of Rau's IAS Study Circle in Old Rajinder Nagar where three civil services aspirants died after flooding in its basement.

The coaching centre owner Abhishek Gupta and coordinator Deshpal Singh were produced before a magisterial court, which remanded the duo in 14 days judicial custody.

Police have registered an FIR under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections 105 (culpable homicide), 106(1) (death of any person by doing any rash or negligent act not amounting to culpable homicide), 115(2) (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt)and 290 (negligent conduct with respect to pulling down, repairing or constructing buildings).

Students detained during protest for action against culprits

A few students were detained after they staged a protest in Old Rajinder Nagar here on Sunday, demanding action against those responsible for the deaths of three civil services aspirants at a coaching centre in the area, and compensation for their families.

Raising slogans "we want justice", the protestors blocked the road next to the Karol Bagh Metro Station, causing huge traffic snarls in the area and prompting police intervention.

A scuffle erupted between the students and police, after which a few protestors were detained and taken away in a bus. Following this, many demonstrators dispersed from the area and police resumed the traffic movement there.

The police also used body camera and drones to monitor protestors' activities during the demonstration.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) M Harshavardhan said since Saturday evening, the road in Old Rajender Nagar was blocked by students protesting over the incident.

Probe finds no drainage system in basement led to incident

According to Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) officials, the coaching centre had its building plan approved by the civic body in 2021.

An MCD official said that in the building completion certificate of the institute, it is clearly written that the basement can only be used for parking and storage. It means that the library was running illegally in the basement, the official said.

The official further said that the storm drains built to carry away excess water after heavy rains in the Old Rajinder Nagar area were covered by encroachers.

The drains in the area were heavily clogged with silt and overflowed leading to a flood-like situation due to the rains that lashed parts of Delhi on Saturday, locals complained.

Telangana CM Revanth and Kishan Reddy expresses condolences

Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and Union Minister G Kishan Reddy expresses condolences on the death of Tanya Soni

The Union Coal and Mines Minister, who represents Secunderabad Lok Sabha constituency, in a post on 'X' said he spoke to Tania Soni's father Vijay Kumar and extended his support and prayers to the family.

"Saddened by the tragic demise of Ms. Tania Soni, a resident of Secunderabad who lost her life in the flooding at an IAS coaching center in Rajinder Nagar, New Delhi. Personally spoke to her father, Shri Vijay Kumar, and expressed my deepest condolences," Reddy said.

Inputs from PTI.