New Delhi: A civil service aspirant, who narrowly escaped the flooding in the basement of a coaching centre in Old Rajinder Nagar, Delhi, recounted that one of the victims had urged him not to panic.
Rishabh Pal, 21, remembered Tanya Soni, one of the three students who perished in the flood at Rau’s IAS Study Circle, saying he would always regret not being able to rescue his peers.
Shreya Yadav, 25, and Nevin Dalwin, 28, were the other victims of the July 27 incident. The coaching centre was only authorized to use the basement for storage, yet it had been converted into a library.
Pal, from Ghaziabad, reported that approximately 15 students escaped the basement, but another 15 remained trapped. He described the terrifying event, noting that the library, over 13 feet in height, was submerged within three to four minutes.
“Tanya, my batchmate, assured us there was no need for alarm and that we would be rescued. She proposed creating a human chain. We attempted it, but the water’s current prevented us from maintaining our grip,” he explained.
As the water rose, he managed to reach the stairs where a staff member helped him to safety. The last time he saw Tanya and Shreya, they were standing on a table in the library.
“My friend Jaideep and a few others followed me out. Then, the institute’s staff brought a rope to rescue those still in the water,” he continued. Pal mentioned he did not see Nevin in the library.
He commended the staff’s prompt action, stating that without their quick response, the casualty count could have been higher.
Contrary to some reports, Pal clarified that there were no biometric locks anywhere in the building. He also claimed there was a delay in the emergency response.
“NDRF officials arrived around 10 pm and informed us they couldn’t assist as they lacked the necessary equipment,” he said.
To date, seven individuals have been detained, encompassing the proprietor and the coordinator of the centre, concerning the case.